Extending MAPE-K to support Human-Machine Teaming

TL;DR

This paper extends the MAPE-K feedback loop to explicitly support Human-Machine Teaming by integrating interaction and partnership factors, demonstrated through an autonomous multi-UAV emergency response system.

Contribution

It introduces the MAPE-K-HMT framework, augmenting traditional MAPE-K with infrastructure and runtime models to facilitate effective human-machine teaming.

Findings

Identifies critical factors for human-machine teaming.

Proposes infrastructure for dynamic runtime models.

Demonstrates application in multi-UAV emergency response.

Abstract

The MAPE-K feedback loop has been established as the primary reference model for self-adaptive and autonomous systems in domains such as autonomous driving, robotics, and Cyber-Physical Systems. At the same time, the Human Machine Teaming (HMT) paradigm is designed to promote partnerships between humans and autonomous machines. It goes far beyond the degree of collaboration expected in human-on-the-loop and human-in-the-loop systems and emphasizes interactions, partnership, and teamwork between humans and machines. However, while MAPE-K enables fully autonomous behavior, it does not explicitly address the interactions between humans and machines as intended by HMT. In this paper, we present the MAPE-K-HMT framework which augments the traditional MAPE-K loop with support for HMT. We identify critical human-machine teaming factors and describe the infrastructure needed across the various phases of the MAPE-K loop in order to effectively support HMT. This includes runtime models that are constructed and populated dynamically across monitoring, analysis, planning, and execution phases to support human-machine partnerships. We illustrate MAPE-K-HMT using examples from an autonomous multi-UAV emergency response system, and present guidelines for integrating HMT into MAPE-K.