Assessing Human-Autonomy Interaction in Driving Assist Settings – Missy Cummings

Computer Science Seminar Series
January 19, 2021

“Assessing Human-Autonomy Interaction in Driving Assist Settings”
Missy Cummings, Duke University

In order to determine how the perception, autopilot, and driver monitoring systems of Tesla Model 3s interact with one another, and also to determine the scale of between- and within-car variability, a series of four on-road tests were conducted. Three sets of tests were conducted on a closed track and one was conducted on a public highway. Results show wide variability across and within three Tesla Model 3s, with excellent performance in some cases but also likely catastrophic performance in others. This presentation will not only highlight how such interactions can be tested, but also how results can inform requirements and designs of future autonomous systems.

Mary "Missy" Cummings received her BS in mathematics from the United States Naval Academy in 1988, her MS in space systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1994, and her PhD in systems engineering from the University of Virginia in 2004. A naval officer and military pilot from 1988 to 1999, Cummings was one of the U.S. Navy’s first female fighter pilots. She is currently a professor in Duke University's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and the director of the Humans and Autonomy Lab. Cummings is an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics fellow and a member of the Defense Innovation Board. Her research interests include human supervisory control, explainable artificial intelligence, human-autonomous system collaboration, human-robot interaction, human-systems engineering, and the ethical and social impact of technology.