Title: Ethical Implications and Professional Standards in Modern Electrical and

Computer Engineering (ECE)

Objective:

Introduce students to the nuances of engineering ethics and professional

standards in the world of Electrical and Computer Engineering by investigating a

defined real-world situation. Students will dissect the scenario's ethical challenges

and present solutions adhering to industry standards.

Real-world Situation: Autonomous Electric Vehicle (EV) Accidents

Recent advancements in autonomous EVs have led to several accidents, some

fatal, due to software glitches and unclear communication between the vehicle's

system and human drivers. Stakeholders include vehicle manufacturers, software

developers, passengers, pedestrians, and regulatory bodies.

Components:

1. Background Study (20% of project grade)

- Delve into the technicalities behind autonomous EVs. Understand the

intersection of electrical engineering (vehicle mechanisms) and computer

engineering (software algorithms).

- Summarize key incidents that have occurred globally related to these vehicles./n2. Ethical Analysis (30% of project grade)

- Identify the core ethical issues in these incidents.

- Enumerate the stakeholders and their potential benefits and risks.

- Use ethical frameworks like Utilitarianism, Duty-Based Ethics, or Rights-Based

Ethics to critique the situations.

3. Application of Professional Standards (25% of project grade)

- Research existing professional standards related to autonomous vehicles and

their software. For instance, look into IEEE standards or guidelines provided by

organizations like SAE International.

- Analyze how these standards might have prevented or exacerbated the

described accidents.

- Suggest areas where these standards can be improved or refined.

4. Recommendations (25% of project grade)

- Propose solutions or guidelines that can prevent such accidents in the future,

keeping in mind both ethical considerations and professional standards.

- Detail how these solutions serve various stakeholders./nDeliverables:

A comprehensive report (8 pages) covering sections 1-4.