Unlocking the Potential: A Course Curriculum Applying Model-Based Systems Engineering for Open Source Hardware in Academia
Applications of MBSE for Developing and Promoting the Use of Open Source Hardware in Academia
Subject: The lack of widespread use of OSHW in academia is likely due to a lack of awareness of its contributions outside of academia to academically relevant fields, one of which is sustainability. This curriculum describes how to apply model-based systems engineering (MBSE) to address several key issues preventing more widespread use of OSHW in academia. This is a living document meant for continual improvement, thus it is a work in progress.
We will demonstrate the use of a free and open source program for accomplishing this goal. This curriculum contains 11 modules, each presenting an issue impeding the broader adoption of OSHW in academia and how MBSE is well suited to overcome these issues. The list of 11 issues are as follows:
There are no unifying standards or best practices for creating high quality documentation.
Documentation for OSHW projects is dispersed across many platforms, websites, wikis and blogs
No clear definition of scope exists
Lack of standard formats, clear organization, and technical jargon makes it difficult for the layperson to understand existing documentation
Language is a barrier for the dissemination of open hardware plans
There’s no simple way to remix and mashup hardware
Derivative work is difficult to track
Lack of appropriate software for designing, displaying and sharing plans makes collaborative development difficult
It’s difficult to update and evolve open source hardware designs due to documentation dependencies
Documentation is time-consuming
Unclear licensing and fear of infringement of intellectual property (IP) rights discourage people from producing documentation
Target Audience: University professors primarily in engineering and related fields
Benefits: Accelerating the adoption of OSHW in academia by making it much easier to understand, adopt, use, and produce OSHW on high-value research projects. OSHW can also encourage community involvement while providing improved hands-on learning experiences.
Outcome: Upon successfully completing this curriculum on applying MBSE to address issues impeding the adoption of OSHW in academia, university professors should gain a deep understanding of the challenges and solutions related to OSHW documentation, collaboration, and licensing. As a result, they will be empowered to introduce OSHW into their research projects, effectively communicate its benefits to students, and contribute to the broader adoption of OSHW in academia.