Cyber Systems and Engineering

Background

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the integration of cyber systems and their engineering is becoming increasingly critical. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) as a core component of cyber systems, coupled with the growing complexity and interconnectedness of systems, highlights the need for a dedicated technical committee focused on “Cyber Systems and  Engineering” within the Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society (SMC Society). This committee would address the unique challenges and opportunities in the field, differentiating itself from existing committees. We will create a new joint Technical Committee between the three areas: Cybernetics, Human-Machine Systems (HMS), and Systems Science and Engineering (SSE). Our committee aims to complement and enhance the work of other relevant technical committees within the SMC Society. Below are the summary of the unique features of our committee.

1. Development of Artificial Intelligence (AI): With the proliferation of AI technologies in various domains, including natural language processing, autonomous driving systems, smart cities, smart healthcare, and more, intelligent cyber systems have become the backbone of modern society. On the one hand, AI algorithms are increasingly integrated into these systems to make them more  intelligent and adaptive. However, on the other hand, how to practically and efficiently deploy these AI algorithms into systems is becoming more and more important which inspire the needs for  smart engineering. The design, development, and engineering of intelligent cyber systems require a distinct focus, which our technical committee “Cyber Systems and Engineering” can provide.
2. Interdisciplinary Nature: Cyber systems today transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. Besides the core technology like AI, they often involve the integration of hardware, software,  communication protocols, and human-machine interfaces. This interdisciplinary nature necessitates a committee that can bridge these gaps, fostering collaboration between experts in various domains. “Cyber Systems and Engineering” would serve as a hub for such cross-disciplinary endeavors.
3. Cybersecurity Challenges: Ensuring the security and resilience of cyber systems is paramount in an era of increasing cyber threats. An exclusive committee focused on cyber systems and  engineering can address cybersecurity issues on both aspects of system and engineering, including threat detection, prevention, defenses, as well as ethical considerations in AI and cyber systems.
4. Engineering Practices: Effective engineering practices are essential to design and implement robust, reliable, and efficient cyber systems. This technical committee would emphasize engineering   methodologies, standards, and best practices specific to cyber systems, including model-driven engineering, system architecture, etc.
5. Complementing Existing Committees: While the systems, man, and cybernetics society concentrates on systems science and engineering, human-machine systems, and cybernetics, our committee cyber systems and engineering would extend its focus to encompass broader cyber systems, including but not limited to those with a strong AI component. This differentiation ensures that both  committees can address their specific domains more effectively while promoting collaboration where their areas of interest intersect.

In conclusion, the establishment of a cyber systems and engineering technical committee within the Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society aligns with the society’s mission to promote theory,  practice, and interdisciplinary aspects of systems science and engineering, human-machine systems, and cybernetics. This committee would cater to the growing importance of AI in cyber systems, the need for robust engineering practices, and the ever-evolving landscape of technology. It would complement existing committees while providing a specialized focus on the critical intersection of cyber systems and engineering.

Mission and Vision

The mission of the Cyber Systems and Engineering Technical Committee is to advance the theory, practice, and interdisciplinary aspects of the current intelligent cyber systems and their engineering within the Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society. We aim to serve the interests of our members and the broader community by promoting excellence in the design, development, and deployment of intelligent and secure cyber systems.

Our vision is to become the leading technical committee for the advancement of intelligent cyber systems and their engineering technology. We aspire to foster innovation, collaboration, and professional development in the dynamic field of cyber systems, with a particular focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) related technologies. By embracing diversity, empowering our members, and upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, we aim to shape the future of cyber systems and engineering for the betterment of society.