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A Comparison of Embedded Systems Education in the United States, European, and Far Eastern Countries

Abstract

Worldwide, institutions of higher education share many of the same concerns with respect to embedded systems education. Some of these concerns involve curriculum design, offering proper courses, development of laboratories and appropriate experiences for the students. This paper will compare and contrast the embedded systems education in the United States, European, and Far Eastern countries.

Introduction

Embedded systems are electronic systems that contain a microprocessor or microcontroller, however, one doesn’t think of them as a computer – the computer is hidden, or embedded. Embedded systems are ubiquitous. In the US, homes have an average of 30 to 40 microprocessors or microcontrollers each. Embedded System is one of the most dynamic, fast growing areas in industry. Embedded systems design addresses the challenges of hardware and software co-design.

The area of Embedded Systems Design has been gaining a tremendous growth in recent years. A major aspect of this growth has been the addition of networking technologies, operating systems, and database management systems to embedded systems. Embedded systems have application in many areas such as automotive/transportation, government/military, medical equipment, telecommunications, avionics/aeronautics, aerospace, electronics, office automation, data- communication, industrial automation, and consumer electronics1. About 98% of all the 32-bit microprocessors currently in use worldwide are used in embedded systems2. By the year 2010, it is forecasted that 90% of the overall program code developed will be for embedded computing systems3.

The design of embedded systems has been around for more than thirty years. However, the academic subject of embedded systems design is a relatively new subject. It is considered to be an interdisciplinary field combining areas such as computer science, electrical engineering, applied mathematics, and control theory.

The tremendous growth in embedded computing has given rise to a demand for engineers and computer scientists with experience in designing and implementing embedded systems. Embedded system design is currently not yet well represented in academic programs. Most computer engineering programs teach programming and design skills that are appropriate for a general-purpose computer operating under the control of a commercial operating system rather than for the more specialized embedded systems4, 5.

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Minaie, A., & Sanati-Mehrizy, R. (2008, June), A Comparison Of Embedded Systems Education In The United States, European, And Far Eastern Countries Paper presented at 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--4090