The Interactive Systems Group (ISG) is a research group embedded within ARCAA. The ISG conducts research into all aspects of complex human-machine systems and in particular those systems involving the command and control of heterogeneous autonomous agents. The aim of the group is to develop the concepts necessary for the safe and efficient operation of complex interacting human-machine systems in a broad range of applications, including:
- Developing autonomous systems and interfaces for air traffic control;
- Mission command of autonomous systems for search and rescue, bushfire fighting, boarder surveillance, and environmental management
- Efficient mission command and control systems which will facilitate a single human operator to safely and efficiently support the simultaneous operation of multiple UAS;
Research Equipment
Multi-touch, multi-user interactive tabletop
In addition to ARCAA’s flight test systems, the ISG has specialist equipment supporting a diverse range of research experiments, including a Circle12 Diamond Touch (DT104) multi-touch, multi-user interactive tabletop, which is capable of allowing four users to work on a shared desktop environment.
The multi-touch, multi-user table provides an experiment platform that allows the ISG to investigate local team interactions with automated systems. Coupled with portable devices, such as iPads, interactions including remote team members can be simulated, and questions revolving around task delegation, information exchange, and portable device Human Machine Interface (HMI) can be addressed.
Initial research with the tabletop will involve the development of experiments focused on search and rescue scenarios, aimed at investigating how HMI elements affect the exchange of information between the table and portable devices.
The Australian Advanced Air Traffic System (TAAATS) Feed
Another key research tool is a live (10 second delayed) feed from The Australian Advanced Air Traffic System (TAAATS). Kindly provided by Airservices Australia, the feed provides ARCAA researchers with valuable real-world aircraft movement information – a key input to the development of autonomous and interactive systems for application to Air Traffic Control.
History
The ISG is a relatively new group within ARCAA formed in 2010 by Assoc Professor Duncan Campbell. The research area arose from a sabbatical program in 2006 where Assoc Professor Campbell was hosted by the Humans and Automation Laboratory (HAL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A particularly prosperous collaboration has developed with Professor Gilles Coppin from Telecom-Bretagne in France, also on sabbatical at MIT in 2006. Thus was born the concept of the B3 relationship signifying the home cities of the three institutions Brisbane, Brest and Boston (MIT is in Cambridge MA, but we consider it as Boston for the purpose of our B3 designation).
ISG Team
In addition to Associate Professor Duncan Campbell, the ARCAA ISG includes ARCAA Academics Dr Felipe Gonzalez and Mr Reece Clothier.
For more information contact Associate Professor Duncan Campbell, or view the Joining ARCAA page for information on research opportunities within the ARCAA ISG.
