Explaining and Architecting Intelligent and Connected Software Systems

解释和构建智能互联软件系统

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-05923
• 负责人: Ernst, Neil
• 金额: $ 1.68万
• 依托单位: University of Victoria
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=713949
• 关键词: Explaining; Architecting; Intelligent; Connected; Software

The characteristics of large, complex software systems are changing. Software is becoming more intelligent, adding machine learning components that are difficult for humans to interpret. Software is becoming more connected, formed of partially orchestrated sets of interacting components that create structures that are realized only at runtime [1]. The promise of intelligent and connected systems is that they enable radical new functionality with much less human effort. Future critically important systems---like autonomous vehicles and energy grids---will be intelligent and connected. The goal of this proposal is to dramatically improve the theories and tools we have for understanding and designing these intelligent, connected systems. There are two major research challenges that make constructing these systems difficult. The first is *explanation*. Explanation is for system users and designers, and helps us understand whether the software is fulfilling our intentions for it. Explanation is vital for intelligent, connected systems, since they are composable (with previously unknown, emergent properties), and they are hard to interpret, since they involve complex machine learning algorithms. Explanation includes why the system takes the actions it does, and how it will change in the future. The second major research challenge is *designing* current and existing systems to fulfil user intentions. Since they are composable and autonomous, new design theories will be needed to constrain how these systems evolve. The portion of a project's functionality (and cost) due to software is growing. 80% of functionality in the F-22 fighter jet is from software [9]. However, the consequences of combining networked software components and web service interfaces (aka APIs) with new and emerging work in machine learning promises to dramatically accelerate the pace with which software dominates our world. The impact of my research will be greater confidence in assembling these systems, and a better understanding of how to design them to support user intentions. Intelligent and connected systems are advanced technology that require knowledge and training for their development and operation. Engineers with the skills to understand and architect these systems will be vital. This proposal will develop new design approaches to intelligent, connected systems. It will create tools for tracing from user intentions to design artifacts. And finally, the proposal will investigate how humans explain the behaviour of these systems.

大型，复杂的软件系统的特征正在发生变化。软件变得越来越聪明，添加了机器学习组件，这些组件难以解释。软件正在变得越来越连接，由部分精心策划的交互组件组成，这些组件创建仅在运行时实现的结构[1]。智能和连接系统的承诺是，它们能够以人为少得多的努力来实现激进的新功能。未来至关重要的系统（例如自动驾驶汽车和能源网格）将是聪明和连接的。 该提案的目的是显着改善我们为理解和设计这些智能，连接系统的理论和工具。有两个主要的研究挑战使构建这些系统变得困难。第一个是 *解释 *。说明是针对系统用户和设计师的，并帮助我们了解该软件是否满足了我们的意图。解释对于智能，连接的系统是至关重要的，因为它们是可以组合的（具有以前未知的新兴属性），并且很难解释，因为它们涉及复杂的机器学习算法。解释包括系统采取的行动以及将来将如何变化的原因。第二个主要的研究挑战是 *设计 *当前和现有系统以满足用户意图。由于它们是可理解的和自主的，因此将需要新的设计理论来限制这些系统的发展方式。 由于软件引起的项目功能（成本）的部分正在增长。 F-22战斗机中80％的功能来自软件[9]。但是，将网络软件组件和Web服务界面（又称API）与机器学习中的新工作相结合的后果有望极大地加速软件在我们的世界中占主导地位的步伐。我的研究的影响将更有信心组装这些系统，以及更好地理解如何设计它们以支持用户意图。智能和连接的系统是高级技术，需要知识和培训才能开发和运作。具有了解和架构这些系统技能的工程师至关重要。该提案将开发新的设计方法，以实现智能，连接的系统。它将创建从用户意图到设计文物的工具。最后，该提案将调查人类如何解释这些系统的行为。