Targeted Infusion Project: Collaborative Cloud-Edge Artificial Intelligence in Cyber-physical Systems

历史上的黑人学院和大学本科生计划（HBCU-UP），通过有针对性的输液项目支持开发，实施和循证创新模式和方法的研究，以提高HBCU本科生的准备和成功，使他们可以追求科学，技术，工程或数学（STEM）研究生课程和/或职业。研究小组将人工智能（AI）和网络物理系统（CPS）确定为美国未来STEM劳动力的研究，教育和就业机会的两个战略领域。因此，在电气和计算机工程（ECE）课程中结合人工智能和CPS的适当课程序列将使学生做好面对现实世界工程挑战的准备。研究团队预计，未来的学生将考虑从事AI-CPS专业，增加科学劳动力的多样性和国家竞争力，并缓解这一要求苛刻的领域熟练专业人员的短缺。该项目通过让学生，包括少数民族和代表性不足的学生参与AI-CPS研究，教育和培训来解决上述问题。通过这个项目，学生获得了AI-CPS安全方面的技能，并最终建立了一份简历，提高了他们被考虑从事高需求工作的机会。此外，通过将该项目作为开放式课程向姐妹HBCUs传播，可能会吸引来自不同学科的学生。 最后，该项目将向更广泛的受众展示HBCU的研究能力和质量。该项目引入了一个定义明确的AI-CPS课程，使代表性不足的工程专业学生能够获得对国家未来至关重要的知识和机会。开发的课程包括人工智能，CPS和网络安全组件，旨在针对纳什维尔等不断发展的城市需要的基础设施网络安全应用程序。该研究强调了基于项目的学习经验，已被证明是一种有效的方法，以提高工程专业学生的技能。与当地政府机构合作的拟议研究项目有助于学生应对现实世界的挑战。与不同学术部门的跨学科合作使学生能够集思广益，以解决美国现代城市遇到的问题。工作的成功之路倡议准备学生在学术界和工业界之间切换。从长远来看，它允许学生完成本科学位，并追求更高的教育学位。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP), through Targeted Infusion Projects supports the development, implementation and study of evidence-based innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of HBCU undergraduate students so that they may pursue science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) graduate programs and/or careers. The research team identified Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cyber-physical systems (CPS) as two strategic fields of research, education and job opportunities for future STEM workforce in the United States. Thus, a proper courses sequence combining AI and CPS in the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) curriculum will prepare students to face real-world engineering challenges. The research team expects future students will consider careers in AI-CPS professions, increase scientific workforce diversity and national competitiveness, and ease the shortage of skilled professionals in this demanding field. This project addresses the above issues by involving students, including minority and underrepresented students, in AI-CPS research, education, and training. Through this project, students gain skills in AI-CPS security and eventually build a resume that improves their chances of being considered for a highly in-demand job. Also, by disseminating the project as an open curriculum to sister HBCUs could potentially attract students from different disciplines. Finally, the project will show the research capacity and quality of HBCUs to a broader audience.The project introduces a well-defined AI-CPS curriculum enabling underrepresented engineering students to access the knowledge and opportunities essential to the nation future. The developed curriculum has AI, CPS, and cyber-security components, designed to target infrastructure cyber-security applications that a growing city like Nashville needs. The research emphasizes a project-based learning experience that has proved to be an effective method to improve the skill set of engineering students. The proposed research projects in collaboration with local government agencies help to prepare students to deal with real-world challenges. The interdisciplinary cooperation with different academic departments allows students to brainstorm new solutions to address issues encountered by a modern city in the United States. The pathway-to-success initiative of the work prepares students to switch between academia and industry. In the long run, it allows students to complete an undergraduate degree and pursue higher education degrees.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.