Author: paladugu.10

CSEL’s Article on Modeling and Simulation as a Discovery Tool Published

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As part of an ongoing initiative to using modeling and simulation techniques as a discovery tool for envisioned systems, Abhinay Paladugu, Alicia Fernandes, and Martijn Ijtsma from the Cognitive Systems Engineering Lab (CSEL) have published a new article. This study highlights how work modeling and simulation—considering the dynamics of the environment—can reveal key interactions and uncover emergent behavior in complex systems. Importantly, the study emphasizes that these techniques are not used to validate the system but rather to discover new insights about system behavior and design.

The paper introduces a three-lens approach to analyzing envisioned systems:
• Feasibility
• Comparing alternate versions
• Robustness

Through case studies and detailed walkthroughs, the research demonstrates how modeling and simulation can be systematically applied, starting with paper-based descriptions and evolving into fully simulated work models. This research provides valuable guidance for designers and engineers, integrating modeling and simulation into the design process to make more informed decisions. The case study highlights the benefits of leveraging computational modeling and simulation as a discovery-driven method.

If you want to learn more or explore additional examples, you can view the dissertation of Abhinay Paladugu for further insights into this methodology.
To read the full article, visit Sage Journals: Computational Simulation of Distributed Work as a Discovery Tool for Envisioning Future Operations.

Abstract

Envisioning new kinds of operations requires systematically developing architectures, work procedures, and artifacts to support human and machine agents in coordinating within dynamic environments. Accurately predicting how envisioned operations will unfold is challenging as (1) early design-phase descriptions of architectures, work procedures, and artifacts are often underspecified, and (2) key outcomes of interest emerge from interactions between cognitive work and environmental dynamics. This paper discusses how computational simulation of work can serve as a discovery tool for envisioning future operations. We introduce a three-phase approach using the Work Models that Compute (WMC) framework, which involves converting paper-based representations of work into computational models, developing scenarios and test conditions, and simulating work dynamics to analyze emergent behaviors. We illustrate this approach through a case study on developing contingency management procedures for envisioned air transport operations, specifically Urban Air Mobility (UAM). The case study demonstrates how computational simulation can (1) reveal the need for clearer design specifications, (2) uncover interactions and emergent behavior that may lead to undesirable outcomes, such as coordination surprises, and (3) identify trade-offs between multiple design options. Insight from simulation can complement other cognitive systems engineering methods to refine and enhance the feasibility and robustness of envisioned operations.

Alicia Fernandes presented about the use of MBSE for AAM at AIAA SCITECH 2025 Forum

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As a part of NASA SBIR Phase II, CSEL is working with Mosaic ATM to enable the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) system. The team uses model-based systems engineering techniques and model-based simulations to analyze and create a contingency planning toolkit for AAM. CSEL Alum and Mosaic ATM’s R&D Business Unit Manager Alicia Fernandes recently presented part of this work at AIAA Scitech titled, “Use of Model Based System Engineering to Drive UAM Contingency Management Procedure Design.” The abstract for the paper is given below and the full paper can be found online at this link. If you want to look at previous publications from this project please visit this page.

CSEL students presented at HFES annual meeting ASPIRE’24

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CSEL students presented their work at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society annual meeting ASPIRE’24 in Phoenix, AZ.

Sal(PhD ISE ’28) presented a lecture on functional modeling using Network Mathematics to better understand how coordination demands are created and managed in human-machine teams. This model will be used to better inform how human-machine teams are designed for use in unstructured domains such as disaster response robotics, which will allow these teams to have a greater impact when deployed. This model takes coordination demands into explicit considerations when evaluating these teaming configurations, which is not typically modeled in traditional approaches. By explicitly modeling human coordination needs with robots, a better understanding of how these systems work is realized. The full conference paper can be found here.

Abhi(PhD ISE ’24) demonstrated the computational modeling and simulation approach that can help designers and engineers better envision the system. The demonstration provided details on how to apply the technique and some insights into the specifics of the technique. This technique works on the principle that understanding emergence caused by the interactions of work, work environment, and agents helps better understand the feasibility and robustness of the system. By explicitly modeling work and its relation to work dynamics, the method can reveal underlying interactions. The full conference paper can be found here.

CSEL Students Presented NASA Student Research Challenge Work at the DASC 2024

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CSEL students recently had the opportunity to present their year long student led project at the Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC) in San Diego, California. Izzy Furl (BSc CSE ’24) and Abhinay Paladugu (PhD ISE ’24) gave a podium presentation detailing the results of a Human in the Loop simulated experiment. The project was awarded in the spring of 2023 after the team proposed their ideas for NASA’s University Student Research Challenge. Other team members include Connor Kannally (PhD ISE ’27) and undergraduate alumni Luke McSherry (BSc ISE ’24), who currently works at NASA Johnson Space Center as an Exploration Engineer.

Over the last year, the team developed a Information Visualization plugin for BlueSky, an open-source air traffic simulator. Along with software development, the team used the software to collect empirical evidence showing the challenge of monitoring multiple self-flying aircrafts. Their presentation detailed how their software can be used to support next generation aviation operations, specifically for enabling safe and efficient human machine teaming. The full conference paper can be found here and will soon be published on sage.

To view the pdf of the podium presentation please click here

PhD Student Abigail Post Wins HFES CEDM Best Paper Award for 2024

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PhD student Abigail Post was awarded the HFES CEDM track best paper of the year for her recently presented poster on the What’s Next diagram which is an event-based visualization which aims to help designers and analysts determine if there is enough support in the design of an automated system so that the human counterpart can successfully coordinate with the system.

It focuses on the ability to project ahead accurately given the cues available in the design over time and look back to that design to make sense of what has happened. This diagram can be used for future systems looking at where additional support for the human needs to be designed into the system and for analysis of previous events to see why the design did not support the human and how the design needs to be improved.

The full paper can be accessed using the following link to Sage Publications.