Adaptive autonomy: Smart cooperative cybernetic systems for more humane automation solutions

Smart cooperation of human and computer agents should be harmonized by adapting the automation level of the cybernetic systems to the changing environmental and peripheral situations. This paper presents an adaptive autonomy methodology that is based on an extension of a well-known human-automation interaction model, as well as the expert judgment technique and the performance shaping factors concept. The method is implemented to a power distribution automation system, and the results are discussed through a scenario-based approach. Then, the performance of the proposed methodology and the effectiveness of adaptive autonomy are shown by the wide span of the changes in the resulting automation levels. The trends of the automation levels are investigated versus the criticality of the situations and the automation stages. The application-oriented matters are also discussed to stress on the context-based nature of the human-centered automation models.