Keynote Speakers


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Dr. Young-Jun Son

Systems and Industrial Engineering
The University of Arizona

A DDDAMS-based Surveillance and Crowd Control via UAVs and UGVs

In this talk, we first introduce a dynamic data driven adaptive multi-scale simulation (DDDAMS) based planning and control framework that we have developed for effective and efficient surveillance and crowd control via unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). The framework is composed of integrated planner, integrated controller, and decision module for DDDAMS. The integrated planner, which is designed in an agent-based simulation (ABS) and Unity-based game engine, devises best control strategies for each function of 1) crowd detection, 2) crowd tracking, and 3) UAV/UGV motion planning. The integrated controller then controls real UAVs/UGVs for surveillance tasks via 1) sensory data collection and processing, 2) control command generation based on strategies provided by the decision planner, and 3) control command transmission via radio to the real system. The decision module for DDDAMS enhances computational efficiency of the framework via dynamic switching of fidelity of simulation and information gathering. Finally, we will share the results of our field demo, which successfully integrated a fast running simulator, a real-time simulator, and the real system (viz. UAVs, UGVs, and crowd).

 

SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Young-Jun Son is a Professor and the Head of Systems and Industrial Engineering Department at The University of Arizona.  He is a Department Editor of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) Transactions, and serve on the editorial board for six other international journals.  He is an IISE Fellow, and has received several research awards such as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) 2004 Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, the IIE 2005 Outstanding Young Industrial Engineer Award, the Industrial and Systems Engineering Research Conference (ISERC) Best Track Paper Award (in 2005, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2018), and the Best Paper of the Year Award (2007) in International Journal of Industrial Engineering. His research works have been sponsored by NSF, AFOSR, USDOT, USDA, USDOE, NIST, among others.

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Prof. Susan M. Sanchez

Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, CA

Data farming: the meaning and methods behind the metaphor

Data farming captures the notion of purposeful data generation from simulation models. The ready availability of computing power has fundamentally changed the way simulation and other computational models can be used to provide insights to decision makers. Large-scale designed experiments let us grow the simulation output efficiently and effectively. We can explore massive input spaces, use statistical and visualization techniques to uncover interesting features of complex response surfaces, and explicitly identify cause-and-effect relationships. Nonetheless, there are many opportunities for research methods that could further enhance this process. I will begin with a brief overview of key differences between physical and simulation experiments, as well as current data farming capabilities and their relationship to emerging techniques in data science and analytics. I will then share some thoughts about opportunities and challenges for further improving the state of the art, and transforming the state of the practice, in this domain.

 

SHORT BIOGRAPHY

SUSAN M. SANCHEZ is a Distinguished Professor in the Operations Research Department at the Naval Postgraduate School, with a joint appointment in the Graduate School of Defense Management.  Her research focuses on simulation and applied statistics.  She is Co-director of NPS' SEED Center for Data Farming, established to advance the use of simulation experiments and efficient designs to provide decision makers with timely insights.  The SEED Center provides unique research and support for faculty and students, U.S. armed forces, and international allies by teaming academically strong faculty with operationally grounded students, and leveraging strong ties with the military and civilian simulation communities.  Dr. Sanchez has received several awards for both research and professional service, and has been an invited plenary speaker at a number of international conferences.  She is a Titan of Simulation and an INFORMS Fellow.