An Interoperable Framework for Computational Models of Emotion

Computational models of emotion (CMEs) are software systems designed to emulate specific aspects of the human emotions process. The underlying components of CMEs interact with cognitive components of cognitive agent architectures to produce realistic behaviors in intelligent agents. However, in contemporary CMEs, the interaction between affective and cognitive components occurs in ad-hoc manner, which leads to difficulties when new affective or cognitive components should be added in the CME. This paper presents a framework that facilitates taking into account in CMEs the cognitive information generated by cognitive components implemented in cognitive agent architectures. The framework is designed to allow researchers define how cognitive information biases the internal workings of affective components. This framework is inspired in software interoperability practices to enable communication and interpretation of cognitive information and standardize the cognitive-affective communication process by ensuring semantic communication channels used to modulate affective mechanisms of CMEs

Context-Aware Services Using MANETs for Long-Distance Vehicular Systems: A Cognitive Agent-Based Model

Long-distance transportation systems play an important role in economic growth. Yet, these systems are incurred with multifaceted delays and cost problems. The major incites affecting transportation systems are congestion, breakdowns, emergencies, and inclement weather. Scarcity of information about the environment also exacerbates travel problems. It is essential to employ monitoring and guidance that aid in making timely decisions through premediated information. This work aims to provide a flexible model for the long-distance transport system. The model is based on problems faced in long-distance transportation. Moreover, we examine the possible use of emerging Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for better transportation. The system dynamics study the problem at hand through cognitive agent-based modelling (ABM) concepts. The integrated model lays the rules to abate traffic delays. In this model, the distance travelled by vehicles is divided into sections using checkpoints. Every section is composed of different agents such as medical units, police stations, workshops, and petrol pumps. The vehicle shifts connection over the mobile ad hoc network (MANET) when enters or leaves a section. We used NetLogo for simulation of the model. A monitoring and guidance system is tested, and obtained results are analyzed by addressing problems causing delays. The guidance system helps vehicles to take optimal decisions for the time, congestion, and rests. The model can be used to improve decision-making for vehicles through premediated decisions. The proposed model can help to improve the efficiency of the transportation systems by reducing travel time.

What is the semiotic self?

In its last issue, TECCOGS presented a dialogue on issues of Cognitive Semiotics, which Professor Vincent Colapietro, University of Rhode Island (Kingston, RI, USA), contributed to this journal in dialogue with Winfried Nöth. Under the title “Cognitive Semiotics – Minds, and Machines”, he outlined the foundations of Charles Sanders Peirce’s philosophy of mind and its relevance to the study of human and artificial intelligence. TECCOGSs now brings a new dialogue with Colapietro as the first of a series of three “Reflections”, first presented in dialogue with Winfried Nöth on tidd’s YouTube channel under Lucia Santaella’s curatorship. “What is the semiotic self?”, “How can we change habits”, and “Why sentiments can be logical” are the titles of the three Reflections. In this series, Colapietro adds new chapters to extend his introduction to cognitive semiotics. Among the topics of these Reflections are the self as a cognitive agent, the philosophy of intelligence, and the role of emotion in cognition and reasoning.

Artefacts: the big picture in broad terms

My aim in this programmatic paper is to explore the relationship among three important notions: intentionality, disposition and artefact. There wouldn’t be artefacts without what I call “intentional work,” a sustained activity directed to the production of some good. I first present contextualism as a method. Then I use it to delimit the problematic concept ARTEFACT, with the intention to apply it to repertoires of mental dispositions that affect directly our personal identity. The unavoidable but loose criterion of human intervention is used, at least to some degree. Attitudes are intentional states with conceptual content, and concepts are dispositions. We acquire concepts during our lives, sometimes unconsciously, sometimes explicitly through definition of some kind, and each cognitive agent has a unique repertoire of concepts and a unique idiolect as well. The idea that our mental representations (at least some of them) are artefacts might sound strange at first sight, but I shall try to show that it makes full sense. Most of our mental dispositions –those provided with a conceptual content– are themselves artefacts. At the end, we are all different psychologically and culturally because our idiolects and repertoires of concepts are different. For a large part, what makes our species so special is an ongoing process through which homo sapiens makes itself what it is.Keywords: Intentionality, disposition, artefact, contextualism, repertoire.

Workload-adaptive and task-specific support for cockpit crews: design and evaluation of an adaptive associate system

This article describes and validates a concept of a workload-adaptive and task-specific associate system for military helicopter crews. We introduce a cognitive agent that behaves like an additional, artificial crew member. It adapts the extent of support by identifying the current and future task situation and workload of the crew. By choosing different intervention strategies, the associate system dynamically changes the task sharing between the crew and automation. We implemented the associate system into a helicopter simulator. The system supports helicopter pilots during Manned-Unmanned Teaming missions, where the crew of a manned helicopter operates several unmanned aircraft from the cockpit. To evaluate the prototype, we conducted a pilot-in-the-loop campaign and analyzed situations where the association system prevents or corrects human error.