Explaining and Architecting Intelligent and Connected Software Systems

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The characteristics of large, complex software systems are changing. Software is becoming more intelligent, adding machine learning components that are difficult for humans to interpret. Software is becoming more connected, formed of partially orchestrated sets of interacting components that create structures that are realized only at runtime [1]. The promise of intelligent and connected systems is that they enable radical new functionality with much less human effort. Future critically important systems---like autonomous vehicles and energy grids---will be intelligent and connected.The goal of this proposal is to dramatically improve the theories and tools we have for understanding and designing these intelligent, connected systems. There are two major research challenges that make constructing these systems difficult. The first is *explanation*. Explanation is for system users and designers, and helps us understand whether the software is fulfilling our intentions for it. Explanation is vital for intelligent, connected systems, since they are composable (with previously unknown, emergent properties), and they are hard to interpret, since they involve complex machine learning algorithms. Explanation includes why the system takes the actions it does, and how it will change in the future. The second major research challenge is *designing* current and existing systems to fulfil user intentions. Since they are composable and autonomous, new design theories will be needed to constrain how these systems evolve.The portion of a project's functionality (and cost) due to software is growing. 80% of functionality in the F-22 fighter jet is from software [9]. However, the consequences of combining networked software components and web service interfaces (aka APIs) with new and emerging work in machine learning promises to dramatically accelerate the pace with which software dominates our world. The impact of my research will be greater confidence in assembling these systems, and a better understanding of how to design them to support user intentions. Intelligent and connected systems are advanced technology that require knowledge and training for their development and operation. Engineers with the skills to understand and architect these systems will be vital. This proposal will develop new design approaches to intelligent, connected systems. It will create tools for tracing from user intentions to design artifacts. And finally, the proposal will investigate how humans explain the behaviour of these systems.