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Waterloo Engineering Awarded $1.65 Million to Develop Student Training Program in Cyber-Physical Systems

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Professor Krzysztof Czarnecki, of the Electrical and Computer Engineering department, has been awarded a $1.65 million grant from the Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) program by NSERC for the purpose of designing a training program on the topic of product line engineering for cyber-physical systems. The field of cyber-physical systems involves the integration of network connectivity and computational intelligence with physical processes, and is the basis of many upcoming technologies such as autonomous vehicles that network with each other. Through cyber-physical systems, there is room for innovation in many areas including the automotive, aerospace, energy, manufacturing, and healthcare industries.

“Cyber-physical systems connect the physical world—such as machines, cars, airplanes, power generation and the power grid, renewable energy systems—with the cyber world,” Professor Czarnecki says. “We want to be thinking in terms of systems, not just individual computers.” This requires a wide range of skills and knowledge in controls, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science. He goes on to explain the idea of the “Internet of Things,” which refers to an internet for machines rather than people and is a key application of cyber-physical systems. Some examples include having computers controlling things like UAV’s or drones, and autonomous cars.

The NSERC funding will be awarded over the next 6 years, during which time Professor Czarnecki will develop the training program alongside top researchers in product line engineering, as well as Canadian automotive, aerospace, and software companies. This training will include research intensive internships through industry partners, and graduate study courses in software, computer, mechatronics, and systems engineering.

It is expected that the first year of funding will be spent laying the groundwork and building up the program, and that students may be admitted as soon as next year. Students can expect to spend one-third of their time at internships and two-thirds on study terms. There are a number of industry partners already lined up, including General Motors, IBM, and many other smaller companies.

The CREATE grant program is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC) and aims to support the development of collaborative and integrative training programs in areas of significant interest to Canadian research priorities. The programs selected will develop not only the technical skills of students, but also complementary professional skills.

The design of this new program will focus on answering “What can graduate students contribute to the economy and the development of technology and innovation while still in school, as well as after graduating?” There are a limited number of positions in academia, so the program also aims to facilitate students’ transitions to the workforce and to equip them with the tools they need to continue undertaking innovative projects and developing their ideas. Professor Czarnecki explains that these graduate programs offer a unique perspective to students: there is the opportunity to research, learn to think critically, and add value to the company while acquiring skills. The industrial experience will maximize value for both the student and the company.

Part of the key motivation behind this program is to help students learn early-on to identify research problems that are relevant to society and to appreciate the value of industry – that is to say, to learn how to assess the value of ideas, the constraints, and drive towards successful innovation. This is a program that provides a unique, multifaceted learning opportunity for students who want to go into research and development.

Professor Czarnecki says automated driving is one of his favourite examples of cyber-physical systems. In the automotive industry, OEM’s have promised partially autonomous car models for 2017 or 2018, which would be able to drive autonomously on highways. The autonomous capabilities will expand to include self-driving cars on city streets by 2020. While at first there will be only a small percentage of autonomous cars on the road, over time there will be more and more. This has the potential to hugely impact everyday life. The autonomous vehicle is a prime example of a disruptive technology—an innovation that helps create a new market and eventually disrupts an existing market. It has the potential to change the whole business model of the car. For example, people may eventually be able to hail a self-driving car to transport them, eliminating the need to even own a car. City infrastructure would also begin to change, as the need for parking lots and driveways diminishes, and the use of autonomous—and eventually fully electric—cars becomes more popular.

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