EAGER: Exploratory Study for a Complex Adaptive System Testbed

探索性研究早期概念拨款（EAGER）项目的目的是对一个能够验证系统设计理论的研究平台进行探索性研究。研究平台最终将成为一个网络物理系统测试平台，硬件、软件和人类控制子系统的名义和故障行为可以通过实验观察到，并通过不同的设计分析理论与预测行为进行比较。该平台将使设计理论验证的科学过程得以发展，探索名义和故障紧急行为的本质，并将研究扩展到故障检测和系统健康管理。该项目通过设计、建造和使用一个小型试验台来开发平台，该试验台包括一个自主机器人团队、软件、人机界面和控制。本探索性研究将探讨网络物理试验台的可行性，建立一个基于实例分析理论的设计理论验证基线，并为开发更复杂的试验台提供必要的初步数据。如果成功，本研究将建立一个通过实验验证系统设计理论的一般过程。此外，在这项工作中开发的小规模研究平台将为测试和预测系统中的紧急行为提供洞察力，并用作验证和评估工具，以支持系统设计界的合作研究。在这项工作中开发的验证指标可用于优化正在进行的研究中的工具和方法，以解决网络物理系统中故障的复杂性。

The objective of this EArly-Concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) project is to conduct an exploratory study of a research platform capable of validating theories of system design. The research platform will eventually be a cyberphysical system testbed where nominal and faulty behavior of the hardware, software, and human control subsystems can be experimentally observed and compared to predicted behavior by different design analysis theories. This platform will enable the development of a scientific process for design theory validation, explore the nature of nominal and faulty emergent behavior, and expand research into fault detection and system health management. This project is developing the platform through design, construction, and use of a small-scale testbed incorporating an autonomous robot team, software, and human interface and control. This exploratory study will address the feasibility of a cyberphysical testbed, establish a baseline for design theory validation on an example analysis theory, and provide preliminary data necessary for developing a more complex testbed. If successful, this research will establish a general process for system design theory validation through experimentation. Further, the small-scale research platform developed in this work will provide insight into testing and predicting emergent behavior in systems and be used as a validation and evaluation tool to support collaborative research in the systems design community. The validation metrics that will be developed in this work can be used to optimize tools and methods in ongoing research to address the complex nature of failure in cyberphysical systems.