Five (5) mini workshops on innovative topics in CPS will take place during the PI Meeting. PIs will have the opportunity to provide input on the workshop topics through the registration webform at  2025 CPS PI Meeting Registration | Cyber-Physical Systems Virtual Organization (cps-vo.org). Please check the program agenda as the meeting approaches for more details about the workshops.
 

1. CPS in Agriculture (in SLC ballroom)

Organizers/Moderators: Steven Thomson, Simone Silvestri (University of Kentucky)
Speakers: Miguel Acevedo (University of North Texas), Melissa Cantor (Penn State University), Cheol Lee (University of Michigan), Zhaohui (Julene) Tong (Georgia Tech)

Abstract: Agricultural Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) integrate modern sensors, computational power, and control technologies into farming, creating data-driven approaches that enhance productivity and sustainability. Agricultural CPS also bolster resilience against the effects of climate extremes and other unexpected farming challenges. By enabling rapid responses to threats like extreme weather, pest outbreaks, or disease, CPS helps protect crops and reduce losses. Animal systems present unique challenges. While changes in crops generally move at a slow pace depending on the variable of interest, animal health can change rapidly, requiring systems that sense, analyze, and diagnose in real time.  

This workshop will provide talks by leading scientists working at the intersection of CPS and Agriculture, highlighting the future challenges and opportunities in this domain. Talks will be followed by an interactive discussion and Q&A session.

Format and Speakers: 

Four 15-minute presentations, followed by interactive discussions and Q&A sessions moderated by the workshop organizers.

Miguel Acevedo - CPS in Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities

Melissa Cantor - CalfSense: Sensor Fusion Using Technologies Coupled with Machine Learning Techniques to Identify Disease in Dairy Calves

Cheol Lee - On-Demand Smart Thermal Processing of Food

Zhaohui (Julene) Tong - Coupling Real-Time Sensoring and Data-Driving Technology for Controlled Food-Water-Energy Nexus
 

2. Open Problems for CPS in the Age of AI 
(begins in FGH Building Auditorium 134 - w/ breakouts in FGH Rooms 132 & 136)

Organizer/Moderator: Cathy Wu (MIT)
Speakers: Lillian Ratliff (University of Washington), Jyotirmoy Deshmukh (USC), Cathy Wu (MIT)

Abstract: While AI is making rapid advances in digital systems, it remains nascent in cyber-physical systems. For example, there remain long-standing CPS challenges in modeling, system design, closing the loop, and multi-agent coordination while ensuring trustworthiness, safety, and robustness. This workshop is forward looking: The goal is to put our brains together, discuss research gaps and potential solutions, and ideally identify collaborative teams to make scientific progress. We will have short open problem presentations from invited speakers, followed by parallel breakout sessions (one for each open problem) focused on identifying solution approaches, and then a concluding discussion. This workshop aims to foster new creative proposals or even new research directions to advance CPS in the Age of AI.

3. CPS & Digital Twins (in SLC downstairs - Rooms 1&2)

Organizer/Moderator: Fatemeh Afghah (Clemson University)
Speakers: Kaushik Chowdhury (UT Austin), Rudra Dutta (NC State)

Abstract: Digital twins (DTs) provide a pivotal role in advancing in cyber-physical systems by creating dynamic, real-time virtual replicas of physical assets, processes, or environments, offering capabilities far beyond traditional simulators. They continuously synchronize with their physical counterparts through sensor data and feedback loops to provide actionable insights for monitoring, accurate modeling, and predicting system behavior under varying conditions, significantly reducing the need for costly and often infeasible physical testing. Digital twins are indispensable in several CPS domains including manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, energy systems, disaster management, aerospace and smart cities. This workshop features plenary talks, panels, and interactive roundtables with participants from academia and industry to discuss DT challenges like real-time data integration, scalability, and robust modeling for complex, interconnected systems.

4. CPS Resilience (in FGH Building - Room 110)

Organizers/Moderators: Saman Zanouz (Georgia Tech) and Saurabh Bagchi (Purdue)
Speakers: Tarek Abdelzaher (UIUC), Stanley Bak (Stony Brook University), Brandon Lucia (CMU), Melkior Ornik (UIUC),
Edward Lee (UC Berkeley)

Abstract: The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has published an important report in February 2024 on resilience of Cyber Physical Systems Strategy for Cyber-Physical Resilience: Fortifying our Critical Infrastructure for a Digital World. One takeaway from the report is to identify grand challenges on which research should be focused, and support the creation of a National Research agenda  to develop technology solutions that can be transitioned over short, mid, and long-horizons to substantially increase CPS resilience. This workshop will discuss the state of the art in CPS resilience research and identify potential gaps where further research is necessary considering short, medium and long-time horizons.  Specifically, we are interested in areas where the critical issue is not simply the deployment of existing solutions on a widespread basis. What are new and creative concepts especially when dealing with systems that are not necessarily “green field” (i.e., systems that have substantial legacy components in them).  How can AI research either improve or diminish CPS resilience?  How can we measure resilience and what are approaches for experimentation?  Can we achieve guarantees / or assurance?  Cyber-physical system resilience is the ability of the system to prepare for threats and hazards (Natural or man-made, physical or cyber), adapt to changing conditions, and withstand and recover rapidly from adverse conditions and disruptions. For example, it includes the capacity of an integrated system to keep running—even if not at peak performance—should it lose specific functions.

Format: 
Introduction and scope: Saman Zanouz and Saurabh Bagchi [10 minutes]
Panel: Principles and anti-principles of resilience in CPS [40 minutes]
Breakout session [40 minutes]
Breakout session material: https://forms.gle/C7HRagmNcy56kER28 [webform] 

5. Human-in-the-Loop CPS in the Era of Human-AI Alignment: Impact and Future Direction (in FGH Building - Room 138)

Organizer/Moderator: Salma Elmalaki (UC Irvine) 
Speakers: Meeko Oishi (University of New Mexico) Nalini Venkatasubramanian (University of California, Irvine), Eric Mazumdar (Caltech), Bolei Zhou (UCLA)

Abstract: This workshop addresses critical challenges in Human-in-the-Loop Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) by focusing on human-AI alignment. We will explore three key gaps: (1) Formalizing Alignment Concepts: Developing rigorous frameworks for defining and measuring crucial aspects like trustworthiness, transparency, explainability, fairness, and sustainability. (2) Limitations in Sociotechnical Approaches: Evaluating current sociotechnical methods and identifying their shortcomings in achieving effective human-AI collaboration. (3) Assessing Societal Impact: Analyzing the broad impact of advancements in human-AI collaboration on large-scale CPS. The workshop features invited talks from leading experts and a panel followed by interactive roundtable discussions designed to foster brainstorming and collaborative solutions. Join us in contributing to the future of aligned and beneficial human-AI integration in CPS.