Abstract: The goals of this project include the development of real-time control for human-machine co-control of highly dynamic and potentially dangerous systems. The work focuses on formalizing the automated assessment of trust, primarily focusing on the degree to which a computer should trust a human operator. We are focusing on two experimental tasks: a) a crane operation task, where control in automation settings requires a highly skilled operator, and b) rehabilitation and training tasks.

Abstract: Correct functioning of cyber-physical systems is of critical importance. This is more so in the case of safety critical systems such as in medical or automotive applications.

Abstract: We propose a dual expert algorithm (DEA) to assist a mobile robot in learning a person’s preference of moving direction when the human encounters the robot in a typical hallway. When in use in hospital and office environments, a mobile robot will routinely encounter people who are not its primary user. These people need to feel comfortable around the robot for its implementation to be a success.

Abstract: The National Science Foundation established the Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) program with the vision of developing a scientific and engineering foundation for routinely building cyber-enabled engineered systems in which cyber capability is deeply embedded at all scales, yet which remain safe, secure, and dependable -- "systems you can bet your life on." The CPS challenge spans essentially every engineering domain.

Abstract: We have been developing a novel virtually transparent epidermal imagery (VTEI) system for laparo-endoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery. The system uses a network of multiple, micro wireless cameras and multiview mosaicing technique to obtain a panoramic view of the surgery area. This view provides visual feedback to surgeons with large viewing angles and areas of interest so that the surgeons can improve the safety of surgical procedures by being better aware of where the surgical instruments are relative to tissue and organs.

Abstract: Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) requires tight coordination between computational systems and the physical devices that deliver the prescribed treatment plan, making it a perfect example of cyber-physical system. The current approach to addressing tumor motion in radiation therapy is to treat it as a problem and not as a therapeutic opportunity. Existing treatment planning methods attempt to create dose distributions that are at best dosimetrically equivalent to the static case.