Human-in-Loop Decision-Making and Autonomy: Lessons Learnt from the Aviation Industry Transferred to Cyber-Physical Systems

Abstract

In this study, we reviewed aircraft accidents in order to understand how autonomy and safety has been managed in the aviation industry, with the aim of transferring our findings to autonomous cyber-physical systems (CPSs) in general. Through the qualitative analysis of 26 reports of aircraft accidents that took place from 2016 to 2022, we identified the most common contributing factors and the actors involved in aircraft accidents. We found that accidents were rarely the result of a single event or actor, with the most common contributing factor being non-adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs). Considering that the aviation industry has had decades to perfect their SOPs, it is important for CPSs not only to consider the actors and causes that may contribute to safety-related issues, but also to consider well-defined reporting practices, as well as the different levels of mechanisms checked by diverse stakeholders, in order to minimise the cascading nature of such events to improve safety. In addition to proposing a new definition of safety, in this study we suggest reviewing high-reliability organisations to offer further insights as part of future research on CPS safety.

Integration of Cyber-Physical Systems, Digital Twins and 3D Printing in Advanced Manufacturing: A Synergistic Approach

“…By intеgrating CPS within thе production еnvironmеnt, manufacturеrs can swiftly rеconfigurе production sеtups, rеcalibratе production paramеtеrs and accommodatе rapid changеs in product spеcifications or dеsign rеquirеmеnts. This inhеrеnt flеxibility allows manufacturеrs to catеr to еvolving markеt dеmands, rеducе timе-to-markеt for nеw product launchеs and capitalizе on еmеrging markеt opportunitiеs, thеrеby еnhancing thеir compеtitivе еdgе in thе industry (Tran et al, 2019;Makri et al, 2022).…”