CAREER: Human interaction with large numbers of unmanned vehicles

Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN

Investigators

Abstract

Future unmanned vehicle (UV) systems will be deployed for homeland security missions including Chemical, Biological, Nuclear, Radiological, and Explosive (CBRNE) event response. UV systems that incorporate large numbers of ground and aerial UVs [67] (large, mixed-type UV systems) are envisioned. This project will develop visualization techniques that provide a scalable interface incorporating integrated and easily understood information, thus permitting supervision of large, mixed-type UV systems. This project includes three Human-Robotic Interaction (HRI) challenge areas: the development of a data abstraction framework; the development of scalable interface visualization techniques; and the development of visualization transition techniques. During the first four years, the PI will develop and evaluate data abstractions, visualization, and transition techniques. The fifth year focuses on CBRNE field evaluations. A new module for the PI's Complex Human-Machine Interaction course and a new Introduction to Robotics course will be developed. Each summer an undergraduate student and a high school teacher will join the research team. The intellectual merits of this project include: formulation of a data abstraction framework for providing scalable, integrated visualizations; creation and evaluation of visualization and visualization transition techniques; and validation of all hypotheses via quantitative and qualitative usability evaluations with simulated and real UVs. Broader impacts: The development of visualization techniques for large, mixed-type UV systems that allow emergency responders to quickly assess a situation while reducing exposure to contaminants. The development of HRI techniques that will impact UV system development for homeland security that increase personnel capabilities, reduce exposure to dangerous situations, and cover difficult terrain. The development of visualizations may influence interface design for complex system domains such as air traffic control and nuclear process monitoring. The inclusion of high school teachers in summer research projects encourages inclusion of research examples in their courses and may result in increasing student interest in engineering.