Learning-Enabled Cyber-Physical Systems

My research aims to develop techniques and tools for the design and analysis of data-constrained learning-enabled cyber-physical systems (LE-CPS) primarily targeting applications in the internet-of-medical-things (IoMT) and autonomous vehicles (AVs). These systems present a unique combination of challenges stemming from the intersection of data science, embedded systems, and cyber-physical security in healthcare and autonomy applications – challenges that are not well handled by existing robust engineering paradigms. To address these challenges, my research aims to develop novel design and analysis techniques for (i) interoperable IoT devices, (ii) actionable decision support, and (iii) safe learning-enabled control. Maximizing the impact of my research requires an interdisciplinary approach - thus, I openly collaborate with medical professionals and industry to transition my research into practice.

What are the technical challenges of LE-CPS?

Traditional cyber-physical systems (CPS) are safety-critical embedded systems that feature tight coupling between communication and computation used to control complex, dynamic, and uncertain physical/physiological plants. Learning-enabled CPS (LE-CPS) additionally incorporate components whose behavior is driven by “background knowledge” acquired and updated through a “learning process”. The design and analysis of LE-CPS presents multiple technical challenges. First, the data collection process requires identifying and collecting the right data for learning. Second, assuring safety necessitates the ability to provide actionable feedback to clinicans/human operators in situations where confidence in learning degrades. Third, closing-the-loop with learning-enabled components presents challenges for safety and security assurance.

What are data constraints?

While empirical data is often a significant source of background knowledge in LE-CPS, its utility can also be constrained by unmodeled variability, dataset shifts, anomalies, and sensing limitations. Consequently, providing safety guarantees and predictable performance in learning-enabled CPS with data limitations is challenging. My research addresses the challenges of constrained data by incorporating additional sources of background knowledge including physical/physiological models and contextual information. In healthcare, my work utilizes new sensing modalities as well as physiological and contextual information to overcome data challenges stemming from inter/intra-patient variability, constrained sensing and actuation capabilities, limited and protected patient populations, and uncertain models of multi-system physiology. In autonomy, my research utilizes physical models to enable operation in time-varying, uncertain, unstructured, and adversarial environments.

Current Projects

• SCC-IRG JST: Active sensing and personalized interventions for pandemic-induced social isolation (NSF SCC)
• Robust Concept Learning and Lifelong adaptation against adversarial attacks (ARO MURI)

Past Projects

• Momitor: Wearable Technology for Early Detection of Postpartum Hemorrhage (NIH STTR)
• Monitoring safety and adherence of pain management through remote opioid sensing and analysis (NIH R01)
• Smart Alarms 2.0: Foundations for Caregiver-in-the-loop Suppression of Non-Informative Alarms (NSF SCH)
• AutoWean: Foundations of Autonomous Medical CPS for Mechanical Ventilation Weaning (NIH RO1)
• Pediatric Patient Safety Learning Laboratory to Re-Engineer Continuous Physiologic Monitoring Systems (NIH R18)
• Integrated Static and Dynamic Approaches to High-Assurance for Learning-Enabled Cyber-Physical Systems (DARPA Assured Autonomy)