Abstract
Dramatic advances are in the horizon resulting from rapid pace of development of several technologies, including, computing, communication, mobile, robotic, and interactive technologies. These advances, along with the trend towards convergence of traditional engineering disciplines with physical, life and other science disciplines will result in the development of new interdisciplinary fields, as well as in new paradigms for engineering practice in the coming intelligence/convergence era (post-information age). The interdisciplinary fields include Cyber Engineering, Living Systems Engineering, Biomechatronics/Robotics Engineering, Knowledge Engineering, Emergent/Complexity Engineering, and Multiscale Systems engineering.
The paper identifies some of the characteristics of the intelligence/convergence era, gives broad definition of convergence, describes some of the emerging interdisciplinary fields, and lists some of the academic and other organizations working in these disciplines. The need is described for establishing a Hierarchical Cyber-Physical Ecosystem for facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations, and accelerating development of skilled workforce in the new fields. The major components of the ecosystem are listed.
The new interdisciplinary fields will yield critical advances in engineering practice, and help in addressing future challenges in broad array of sectors, from manufacturing to energy, transportation, climate, and healthcare. They will also enable building large future complex adaptive systems-of-systems, such as intelligent multimodal transportation systems, optimized multi-energy systems, intelligent disaster prevention systems, and smart cities.
[1] Duderstadt J.J., Engineering for a changing world — a roadmap to the future of engineering practice, research and education, The Millennium Project, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2008 Search in Google Scholar
[2] Grasso D., Burkins M.B. (editors), Holistic engineering education — beyond technology, Springer, 2010 10.1007/978-1-4419-1393-7Search in Google Scholar
[3] Lyall C., Bruce A., Tait J., Meagher L., Interdisciplinary research journeys — practical strategies for capturing creativity, Bloomsbury Academic, UK, 2011 http://dx.doi.org/10.5040/978184966178210.5040/9781849661782Search in Google Scholar
[4] Aarts E., Crowley J.L., de Ruyter B., Gerhauser H., et al. (editors), Ambiet intelligence — proc. of the European Conference, AmI 2008, Nuremberg, Germany, Springer, November 2008 10.1007/978-3-540-89617-3Search in Google Scholar
[5] De Ruyter B. et al., Ambient intelligence, Proc. of first International Joint Conference, Malaga, Spain, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2010, 6439 10.1007/978-3-642-16917-5Search in Google Scholar
[6] Chong N.Y., Mastrogiovanni F., Handbook of research on ambient intelligence and smart environments: trends and perspectives, Igi Global, 2011 10.4018/978-1-61692-857-5Search in Google Scholar
[7] Curran K. (editor), Innovative applications of ambient intelligence. Advances in Smart Systems, IGI Global snippet, 2012 10.4018/978-1-4666-0038-6Search in Google Scholar
[8] Noor A.K., Preparing for the intelligence era, Mechanical Engineering, 132(11), 2010, 24–29 10.1115/1.2010-Nov-1Search in Google Scholar
[9] Baird D., Nordmann A., Schummer O. (editors), Discovering the nanoscale, IOS Press, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2004 Search in Google Scholar
[10] Bainbridge W.S., Rocco M.C. (editors), Managing nano-bio-info-cogno innovations — Converging Technologies in Society, Springer, 2006 10.1007/1-4020-4107-1Search in Google Scholar
[11] Cao J. (editor), Cyberinfrastructure technologies and applications, Nova Science Publishers, 2009 Search in Google Scholar
[12] Rajkumar R., Lee I., Sha L., Stankovic J., Cyberphysical systems: the next computing revolution, Proceedings of the 47th Design Automation Conference, Anaheim, California, ACM, New York, 2010, 731–736 10.1145/1837274.1837461Search in Google Scholar
[13] Kim H., Woo W., Real and virtual worlds linkage through cloud-mobile convergence, Proceedings of the cloud-mobile convergence for virtual reality workshop, March 2010, IEEE, 10–13 10.1109/CMCVR.2010.5560607Search in Google Scholar
[14] Sharp P.A., et al., The third revolution: the convergence of the life sciences, Physical Sciences and Engineering, White Paper, MIT — AAAS forum on convergence, 2011 Search in Google Scholar
[15] Jabbour K., The Time has come for the bachelor of science in cyber engineering, high frontier — The Journal for Space and Cyberspace Professionals, Vol. 6,Number 4, 2010, 20 Search in Google Scholar
[16] Marisco K.S., Engineering of societal systems, International Journal of Critical Infrastrctures, 7(1), 2011, 4–20 http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJCIS.2011.03895310.1504/IJCIS.2011.038953Search in Google Scholar
[17] Jenkins C., Bio-inspired engineering, Momentum Press, LLC, New Jersey, 2011 10.5643/9781606502259Search in Google Scholar
[18] Nebeker F., Golden Accomplishments in Biomedical Engineering — 50 Years of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society and the emergence of a new discipline, 2002 10.1109/MEMB.2002.1016851Search in Google Scholar
[19] Gill G., The history of biomedical engineering, Ebook, 2009 Search in Google Scholar
[20] Allen R.G., Mechatronics Engineering: A critical need for this interdisciplinary approach to engineering education, Proceedings of the 2006 IJME — INTERTECH conference on synergistic integration of mechanical engineering with electronics, 2006 Search in Google Scholar
[21] Jeschke S., Liu H., Schilberg D. (editors), Intelligent robotics and applications — proceedings of the 4th International Conference, ICIRA 2011, Aachen, Germany, December 2011, Springer 10.1007/978-3-642-25489-5Search in Google Scholar
[22] Mandenius C.F., Bjorkman M., Biomechatronic design in biotechnology: a methodology for development of biotechnological products, John Wiley and sons, 2011 10.1002/9781118067147Search in Google Scholar
[23] Tong R.K.Y., Biomechatronics in medicine and healthcare, Pan Stanford Publishing, 2011 Search in Google Scholar
[24] Brooker G., Introduction to biomechatronics, Scitech Pub Incorporated, 2012 10.1049/SBCS003ESearch in Google Scholar
[25] Jamshidi M. (editor), System of systems engineering — Innovations for the 21st Century, John Wiley and Sons, 2009 10.1109/ICIINFS.2008.4798321Search in Google Scholar
[26] Ulieru M., Doursat R., Emergent engineering: a radical paradigm shift, International Journal of Autonomous and Adaptive communication Systems, 4(1), 2011, 39–60 http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJAACS.2011.03774810.1504/IJAACS.2011.037748Search in Google Scholar
[27] Frei R., Serugendo, G.D.M., Advances in complexity engineering, International Journal of Bio-Inspired Computation, 3(4), 2011, 199–212 http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJBIC.2011.04114410.1504/IJBIC.2011.041144Search in Google Scholar
[28] Wang Y., Developments in natural intelligence research and knowledge engineering: Advancing applications, In Great Taste Pub, 2012 10.4018/978-1-4666-1743-8Search in Google Scholar
[29] McBurney P., Parsons S., Viroli M., A quarter-century of the knowledge engineering review: Introduction to the special issue, The Knowledge Engineering Review, Vol. 26,Number 1, March 2011 10.1017/S0269888910000330Search in Google Scholar
[30] Stevens R., Engineering mega-systems: The challenge of systems engineering in the information age, Auerbach Publications, 2010, 254 Search in Google Scholar
[31] Oskam I., T-shaped engineers for interdisciplinary innovations: An attractive perspective for young people as well as a must for innovative organizations, European Societies for Engineering education, 2009 Search in Google Scholar
[32] Yahya Y., Mukhtar M., Nielsen D.N., Zakaria M.S., Establishing T-shape graduates: Delivering curriculum using a union approach based on service orientation, The 2nd International Research Symposium in Service Management, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, July 26–30, 2011 Search in Google Scholar
[33] McLennan M., Kennell R., HUBzero: A platform for dissemination and collaboration in computational science and engineering, Computing in Science & Engineering 12(2), 2010, 48–53 http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/MCSE.2010.4110.1109/MCSE.2010.41Search in Google Scholar
[34] Salmons J., Wilson L., Crossing a line: An interdisciplinary conversation about working across disciplines, A trainerspod webinar: August 23, 2007, Models and Notes Search in Google Scholar
© 2012 Versita Warsaw
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.