Current Search:   Barber, Daniel (x)

View All Items

  • CSV Spreadsheet
(1 - 8 of 8)
Transparency and Communication Patterns in Human-Robot Teaming
Title
Transparency and Communication Patterns in Human-Robot Teaming.
Creator
Lakhmani, Shan, Barber, Daniel, Jentsch, Florian, Reinerman, Lauren, Guznov, Svyatoslav, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
In anticipation of the complex, dynamic battlefields of the future, military operations are increasingly demanding robots with increased autonomous capabilities to support soldiers. Effective communication is necessary to establish a common ground on which human-robot teamwork can be established across the continuum of military operations. However, the types and format of communication for mixed-initiative collaboration is still not fully understood. This study explores two approaches to...
Show moreIn anticipation of the complex, dynamic battlefields of the future, military operations are increasingly demanding robots with increased autonomous capabilities to support soldiers. Effective communication is necessary to establish a common ground on which human-robot teamwork can be established across the continuum of military operations. However, the types and format of communication for mixed-initiative collaboration is still not fully understood. This study explores two approaches to communication in human-robot interaction, transparency and communication pattern, and examines how manipulating these elements with a robot teammate affects its human counterpart in a collaborative exercise. Participants were coupled with a computer-simulated robot to perform a cordon-and-search-like task. A human-robot interface provided different transparency types(-)about the robot's decision making process alone, or about the robot's decision making process and its prediction of the human teammate's decision making process(-)and different communication patterns(-)either conveying information to the participant or both conveying information to and soliciting information from the participant. This experiment revealed that participants found robots that both conveyed and solicited information to be more animate, likeable, and intelligent than their less interactive counterparts, but working with those robots led to more misses in a target classification task. Furthermore, the act of responding to the robot led to a reduction in the number of correct identifications made, but only when the robot was solely providing information about its own decision making process. Findings from this effort inform the design of next-generation visual displays supporting human-robot teaming.
Show less
Date Issued
2019
Identifier
CFE0007481, ucf:52674
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007481
Investigating the Role of Cognitive Load in Synthetic Learning Environments for Training
Title
Investigating the Role of Cognitive Load in Synthetic Learning Environments for Training.
Creator
Goh, Joelene, Bowers, Clint, Barber, Daniel, Jex, Steve, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Ensuring effectiveness of training programs has been a dominant theme in the training industry, and is constantly evolving with the steady incorporation of emerging technology. This field study offers an investigation into the intersection between the applied and research world, and examines the practicality of recommended best practices for implementing synthetic learning environments (SLEs) in the military. Specifically, cognitive load has been identified as a significant factor in...
Show moreEnsuring effectiveness of training programs has been a dominant theme in the training industry, and is constantly evolving with the steady incorporation of emerging technology. This field study offers an investigation into the intersection between the applied and research world, and examines the practicality of recommended best practices for implementing synthetic learning environments (SLEs) in the military. Specifically, cognitive load has been identified as a significant factor in influencing the effectiveness of training programs. Research on this topic has focused on utilizing the affordances of SLEs to decrease cognitive load imposed by the material and system in order to allow for more cognitive resources to be allocated towards schema construction and automation. Therefore, this study was derived from a need to ensure that the introduction of SLEs into training programs did not hinder learning or training transfer by comparing the performance outcome measures from two SLEs, Virtual BattleSpace 3 (VBS3) and the Military OpenSimulator Enterprise Strategy (MOSES). Based on concepts of cognitive load, it was possible that any group differences could be explained by the varying levels of cognitive load imposed by either system. Furthermore, the specific system could influence the strength of the effect of cognitive load on performance measures. A conditional process analysis model was constructed from the theorized relationships, and the bootstrap method was used to analyze the model. Research findings indicated no support, and discussions delved into possible explanations for results of the study, limitations, and recommendations for future research. While the analyses were nonsignificant, this was the first study investigating the difference between the VBS3 and MOSES platform, and indicated no difference in impacting performance. Additionally, because MOSES is a free, open source platform, this study could support industries that are looking for cost-effective methods to expand training programs in the direction of SLEs.
Show less
Date Issued
2018
Identifier
CFE0007007, ucf:52031
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007007
Simultaneous Use of Physiological Sensors for a Neuromarketing Task
Title
Simultaneous Use of Physiological Sensors for a Neuromarketing Task.
Creator
Descheneaux, Charles, Reinerman, Lauren, Barber, Daniel, Karwowski, Waldemar, Goldiez, Brian, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
ABSTRACTPhysiological measurements have become more popular in Psychological research over the past ten years. These advancements allowed different objective sensors to become another measurement tool in a scientific arsenal of collecting data. Traditionally, performance and after task subjective measures have been used for most studies in Psychological research. With the opportunity to use these subjective measures along with objective measures, more data can be collected during research and...
Show moreABSTRACTPhysiological measurements have become more popular in Psychological research over the past ten years. These advancements allowed different objective sensors to become another measurement tool in a scientific arsenal of collecting data. Traditionally, performance and after task subjective measures have been used for most studies in Psychological research. With the opportunity to use these subjective measures along with objective measures, more data can be collected during research and therefore potentially produce better quality conclusions.Eye Tracking (ET), functional near infrared (fNIR), transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD), electrocardiogram (EKG) and the electroencephalogram (EEG) have shown great promise in their ability to produce reliable and powerful objective data for research. Consequently, these devices are being used at the same time. The simultaneous use has the potential for interference between devices. Further, these devices are used on human subjects who can find these devices uncomfortable. These issues have the ability to skew data simply due to the measurement devices used.The effort of this study was to determine if the above devices could be used simultaneously without affecting their data quality, determine if difference combinations are more or less beneficial and determine if the combination of sensors have an effect on participant experience. A negative effect from discomfort has the potential to effect data. A study was conducted utilizing the ET, EEG, EKG, fNIR and TCD together in various combinations and also alone to determine if data is compromised and to determine if the combinations have an effect on participant experience.
Show less
Date Issued
2018
Identifier
CFE0007323, ucf:52130
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007323
Gauging Training Effectiveness of Virtual Environment Simulation Based Applications for an Infantry Soldier Training Task
Title
Gauging Training Effectiveness of Virtual Environment Simulation Based Applications for an Infantry Soldier Training Task.
Creator
Maxwell, Douglas, Kincaid, John, Shumaker, Randall, Barber, Daniel, Sottilare, Robert, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's Army Learning Concept 2015 and Army Training Concept 2025 are documents that discuss the need for an adaptive soldier learning model with a flexible training delivery methodology. The U.S. Army has been investing in serious gaming technology for the past two decades as a cost effective means to teach tactics and strategy. Today, the U.S. Army is seeking to expand its application of virtual environment training to areas such as cultural awareness...
Show moreThe U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command's Army Learning Concept 2015 and Army Training Concept 2025 are documents that discuss the need for an adaptive soldier learning model with a flexible training delivery methodology. The U.S. Army has been investing in serious gaming technology for the past two decades as a cost effective means to teach tactics and strategy. Today, the U.S. Army is seeking to expand its application of virtual environment training to areas such as cultural awareness and human network analysis for the infantry soldier. These new expanded applications will require a higher level of non-determinant behavior inside the virtual environment. To meet more of the training needs of the war fighter, the U.S. Army is looking beyond first person perspective games to the cooperative and social gaming experience offered by the MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Game) and the VWT (Virtual World Technology). Altogether, these classes of games have the potential to teach leadership skills, social acclimation skills, cultural awareness and practice skills, and critical thinking skills for problem solving in a cost effective manner. Unfortunately, even today there is a paucity of scientific research to support whether this potential may be realized or not. A literature review was performed which covers current concepts in the usage of virtual environments for military individual and team training in the U.S. Army infantry soldier domains. There are many variables involved with the lifecycle of the virtual training activity including the acquisition, information assurance and cyber security, deployment, proper employment, content development and maintenance, and retirement. This discussion goes beyond the traditional topics of graphics and game engine technology and delves deeper into concepts of the importance of proper usage of the environments by the trainees. This dissertation is composed of three studies with two subject pools: experienced soldiers and novice soldiers. The participants in the studies were randomly assigned to one of two training conditions. The training conditions were either a traditional slide-show in a classroom or a virtual environment based training system. The participants were then provided with training for a room clearing tasks in each of the conditions. The independent variables are training condition and soldier condition. The dependent variables are individual performance, team performance, stress questionnaire scores, and workload questionnaire scores. A number of relationships are explored in this dissertation. The first objective of these studies is to attempt to identify any effect the training conditions have on either individual performance or team performance. Lastly, these studies attempt to identify if there is any difference the training conditions have on novice versus experienced subjects' performance during a live assessment.
Show less
Date Issued
2015
Identifier
CFE0005840, ucf:50924
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005840
Investigating the Impact of Levels of Experience on Workload During Nuclear Power Plant Operations
Title
Investigating the Impact of Levels of Experience on Workload During Nuclear Power Plant Operations.
Creator
Harris, Jonathan, Reinerman, Lauren, Karwowski, Waldemar, Hancock, Peter, Barber, Daniel, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The human-machine interface (HMI) of a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Main Control Room (MCR) is complex. Understanding HMI factors that influence Reactor Operator (RO) performance and workload when controlling an NPP is important. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) began a program of research known as the Human Performance Test Facility (HPTF) with the goal of collecting human performance data to better understand cognitive and physical elements that support safe control room operation. The...
Show moreThe human-machine interface (HMI) of a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Main Control Room (MCR) is complex. Understanding HMI factors that influence Reactor Operator (RO) performance and workload when controlling an NPP is important. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) began a program of research known as the Human Performance Test Facility (HPTF) with the goal of collecting human performance data to better understand cognitive and physical elements that support safe control room operation. The HPTF team developed an experimental methodology to evaluate workload using perceived ratings, performance measures, and physiological correlates. This methodology focuses on tasks commonly performed during operations in an NPP. These tasks include monitoring plant parameters, following defined procedures, and manipulating controls to change the state of the NPP. O'Hara and colleagues developed a framework for task classification. Reinerman-Jones and colleagues modified this framework such that monitoring and detection are separate task types. The task types (i.e., checking, detection, and response implementation) selected for experimentation are composed of steps within defined operating procedures that are rule-based. Testing workload using sufficient numbers of ROs is impractical due to limited availability. The HPTF has developed the (")equal but different(") principle. This principle attempts to simplify complex tasks, such that novices can perform them and experience equivalent workload trends as an expert would when performing the original task. The validity of using the (")equal but different(") principle with novices in place of experts is uncertain. This research addresses this uncertainty by comparing novices and experts using the (")equal but different(") principle. Novices performed four tasks within each of the three task types using a simplified Instrument and Control (I(&)C) panel and a reduced 3-way communication instruction set. Experts performed the same four tasks within each task type with a fully configured I(&)C panel and a complete 3-way instruction set. Overall, the experts across the three task types tended to rate level of perceived workload lower than novices. However, experts also rated themselves as performing worse for the three task types than novices. Experts performed better than novices when it came to identifying correct I(&)C; however, their 3-way communication performance was worse. Physiological measures from EEG between the two groups were not statistically different. ECG findings did show a slight difference.The methodology and associated findings has applicability for MCR designs and regulation recommendations. Novice populations are easier to access than experts and the present research shows that when properly designed, novices can serve in complex operator positions.
Show less
Date Issued
2017
Identifier
CFE0006946, ucf:51634
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006946
Moral Blameworthiness and Trustworthiness: The Role of Accounts and Apologies in Perceptions of Human and Machine Agents
Title
Moral Blameworthiness and Trustworthiness: The Role of Accounts and Apologies in Perceptions of Human and Machine Agents.
Creator
Stowers, Kimberly, Hancock, Peter, Jentsch, Florian, Mouloua, Mustapha, Chen, Jessie, Barber, Daniel, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Would you trust a machine to make life-or-death decisions about your health and safety?Machines today are capable of achieving much more than they could 30 years ago(-)and thesame will be said for machines that exist 30 years from now. The rise of intelligence in machineshas resulted in humans entrusting them with ever-increasing responsibility. With this has arisenthe question of whether machines should be given equal responsibility to humans(-)or if humanswill ever perceive machines as...
Show moreWould you trust a machine to make life-or-death decisions about your health and safety?Machines today are capable of achieving much more than they could 30 years ago(-)and thesame will be said for machines that exist 30 years from now. The rise of intelligence in machineshas resulted in humans entrusting them with ever-increasing responsibility. With this has arisenthe question of whether machines should be given equal responsibility to humans(-)or if humanswill ever perceive machines as being accountable for such responsibility. For example, if anintelligent machine accidentally harms a person, should it be blamed for its mistake? Should it betrusted to continue interacting with humans? Furthermore, how does the assignment of moralblame and trustworthiness toward machines compare to such assignment to humans who harmothers? I answer these questions by exploring differences in moral blame and trustworthinessattributed to human and machine agents who make harmful moral mistakes. Additionally, Iexamine whether the knowledge and type of reason, as well as apology, for the harmful incidentaffects perceptions of the parties involved. In order to fill the gaps in understanding betweentopics in moral psychology, cognitive psychology, and artificial intelligence, valuableinformation from each of these fields have been combined to guide the research study beingpresented herein.
Show less
Date Issued
2017
Identifier
CFE0007134, ucf:52311
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007134
Instructional Strategies for Scenario-Based Training of Human Behavior Cue Analysis with Robot-Aided Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance
Title
Instructional Strategies for Scenario-Based Training of Human Behavior Cue Analysis with Robot-Aided Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance.
Creator
Salcedo, Julie, Lackey, Stephanie, Reinerman, Lauren, Barber, Daniel, Kincaid, John, Matthews, Gerald, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
The U.S. Army desires to improve safety during Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) operations by removing Warfighters from direct line-of-fire by enhancing ISR operational capabilities with unmanned systems, also known as Robot-Aided ISR (RAISR) (DOD, 2013). Additionally, RAISR presents an opportunity to fulfill ISR capability requirements of modern combat environments including: detection of High-Value Individuals (HVI) from safer distances, identification of baseline behavior,...
Show moreThe U.S. Army desires to improve safety during Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) operations by removing Warfighters from direct line-of-fire by enhancing ISR operational capabilities with unmanned systems, also known as Robot-Aided ISR (RAISR) (DOD, 2013). Additionally, RAISR presents an opportunity to fulfill ISR capability requirements of modern combat environments including: detection of High-Value Individuals (HVI) from safer distances, identification of baseline behavior, and interpretation of adversarial intent (U.S. Army, 2008). Along with the demand and projected acquisition of RAISR technology, there is the added need to design training requirements for system operation and task execution instruction. While documentation identifying specific training standards and objectives for ISR tasks utilizing unmanned systems is limited (DOD, 2013), simulation-based training has been identified as a critical training medium for RAISR (U.S. Army, 2008). ISR analysts will primarily conduct RAISR tasks via Indirect Vision Displays (IVD) which transition well into multimodal simulations (Salcedo, Lackey, (&) Maraj, 2014). However, simulation alone may not fulfill the complex training needs of RAISR tasks, therefore, incorporating instructional support may improve the effectiveness of training (Oser, Gualtieri, Cannon-Bowers, (&) Salas, 1999). One method to accomplish this is to utilize a Scenario-Based Training (SBT) framework enhanced with instructional strategies to target specific training objectives.The purpose for the present experiment was to assess the effectiveness of SBT enhanced with selected instructional strategies for a PC-based RAISR training simulation. The specific task type was the identification of HVIs within a group through behavior cue analysis. The instructional strategies assessed in this experiment, Highlighting and Massed Exposure, have shown to improve attentional weighting, visual search, and pattern recognition skills, which are critical for successful behavior cue analysis. Training effectiveness was evaluated by analyzing the impact of the instructional strategies on performance outcomes, including detection accuracy, classification accuracy, and median response time, and perceptions of the level of engagement, immersion, and presence during training exercises. Performance results revealed that the Massed Exposure strategy produced significantly faster response times for one subtle and one familiar target behavior cue. Perception results indicated that Highlighting was the least challenging instructional strategy and the Control offered the preferred level of challenge. The relationships between performance and perception measures revealed that higher levels of engagement, immersion, and presence were associated with better performance in the Control, but this trend did not always hold for Massed Exposure and Highlighting. Furthermore, presence emerged as the primary predictor of performance for select target behavior cues in the Control and Massed Exposure conditions, while immersion and engagement predicted performance of select cues in the Highlighting condition. The findings of the present experiment point to the potential benefit of SBT instructional strategies to improve effectiveness of simulation-based training for behavior cue analysis during RAISR operations. Specifically, the findings suggest that the Massed Exposure strategy has the potential to improve response time when detecting both familiar and novel targets. The results also highlight directions for future research to investigate methods to alter instructional strategy design and delivery in order to improve trainee perceptions of the instruction.
Show less
Date Issued
2014
Identifier
CFE0005705, ucf:50151
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005705
Investigation of Tactile Displays for Robot to Human Communication
Title
Investigation of Tactile Displays for Robot to Human Communication.
Creator
Barber, Daniel, Reinerman, Lauren, Jentsch, Florian, Lackey, Stephanie, Leonessa, Alexander, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Improvements in autonomous systems technology and a growing demand within military operations are spurring a revolution in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). These mixed-initiative human-robot teams are enabled by Multi-Modal Communication (MMC), which supports redundancy and levels of communication that are more robust than single mode interaction. (Bischoff (&) Graefe, 2002; Partan (&) Marler, 1999). Tactile communication via vibrotactile displays is an emerging technology, potentially...
Show moreImprovements in autonomous systems technology and a growing demand within military operations are spurring a revolution in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). These mixed-initiative human-robot teams are enabled by Multi-Modal Communication (MMC), which supports redundancy and levels of communication that are more robust than single mode interaction. (Bischoff (&) Graefe, 2002; Partan (&) Marler, 1999). Tactile communication via vibrotactile displays is an emerging technology, potentially beneficial to advancing HRI. Incorporation of tactile displays within MMC requires developing messages equivalent in communication power to speech and visual signals used in the military. Toward that end, two experiments were performed to investigate the feasibility of a tactile language using a lexicon of standardized tactons (tactile icons) within a sentence structure for communication of messages for robot to human communication. Experiment one evaluated tactons from the literature with standardized parameters grouped into categories (directional, dynamic, and static) based on the nature and meaning of the patterns to inform design of a tactile syntax. Findings of this experiment revealed directional tactons showed better performance than non-directional tactons, therefore syntax for experiment two composed of a non-directional and a directional tacton was more likely to show performance better than chance. Experiment two tested the syntax structure of equally performing tactons identified from experiment one, revealing participants' ability to interpret tactile sentences better than chance with or without the presence of an independent work imperative task. This finding advanced the state of the art in tactile displays from one to two word phrases facilitating inclusion of the tactile modality within MMC for HRI.
Show less
Date Issued
2012
Identifier
CFE0004778, ucf:49800
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004778