IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics Magazine - October 2019 - 6

Guest Editorial

by Edward Tunstel

Transdisciplinary
SMC-Part 2

T

his issue of IEEE Systems,
Man, and Cybernetics Magazine continues its focus on
transdisciplinar y approaches to
systems engineering, systems sci-
ence, human-machine systems, and
cybernetics with the second part
of a special section on the topic of
transdisciplinary systems, man, and
cybernetics (SMC). (The first part
appeared in the April 2019 issue.) The
research and engineering projects
conducted by SMC Society (SMCS)
members and their colleagues around
the world is becoming more transdis-
ciplinary. That is, systems thinking
is more frequently being integrated
within common research and applica-
tions projects with human-machine
systems and the various cybernetics
techniques enabling the current wave
of artificial intelligence.
Transdisciplinary engineering in-
volves the application of individual
theories and practices of multiple
engineering and science disciplines.
Today, those disciplines are converg-
ing by necessity to address new chal-
lenges. This is familiar territory and
a welcome challenge for SMCS mem-
bers as the three principal technical
areas of our Society are peaking in
relevance. Today, as current tech-
nology trends join together with
a nexus of SMC fields of interest,
it is an exciting time and a fitting
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MSMC.2019.2936979
Date of current version: 21 October 2019

6

and Technology," discusses the increas-
ing importance of transdisciplinarity
in R&D and the associated tools and
techniques useful in system design, us-
ing the unification of distinct past re-
search efforts as an example. The third
article, "Operationalizing Autonomy,"
focuses on the domain of autonomy
technology for unmanned and robotic
vehicle systems, highlighting a set of
moment to highlight transdisci-
challenges for maturing the technology
while touching on necessary consider-
plinary aspects of SMC through ex-
ations that represent transdisciplinary
amples of ongoing work by active
issues (e.g., social acceptance; policy;
Society members.
public safety; and barriers to adoption
In the April 2019 issue of IEEE Syssuch as legal, ethical, and moral con-
tems. Man, and Cybernetics Magazine,
cerns). Each article reveals the need to
two articles opened the special section
consider and integrate perspectives
by covering the integrative discipline of
from multiple disciplines, the need for
transdisciplinary systems engineering
continued work to
and the emergence
help promote the
of abstract sciences
transdisciplinary na-
underpinned by ad-
Transdisciplinary
ture of SMC fields
vances in transdis-
engineering
of interest, and to
ciplinary systems
embrace transdisci-
science, human-ma-
involves the applinary approaches
chine systems, and
plication of indifor addressing the
cognitive cybernet-
vidual theories
engineering of com-
ics. Continuing with
and practices of
plex systems.
the aim to stimulate
Transdisciplinary
thinking and discus-
multiple engineersion on how cur-
approa c he s h ave
ing and science
rent SMCS member
become more com-
disciplines.
mon and, at times,
re search ex hibits
necessary for ad-
and serves as ex -
dressing engineer-
emplars f o r trans-
ing problems and analyzing societal
disciplinarity, this issue includes
problems that can be formulated as
three special section articles span-
such. I hope that the collection of
ning human-machine systems and
articles from this special section
both theoretical and practical com-
on transdisciplinary SMC, span-
plex systems.
ning this and the April 2019 issue
The first article, "The Pursuit of
of IEEE Systems, Man, and CyberTransdisciplinary Research," offers a
netics Magazine, offers insights into
set of recommendations for developing
the relevance of SMC fields of inter-
foundational transdisciplinary SMC-
est to solutions of broad scope. The
based research considering human-
intent is for these articles to serve as
centric and human teaming aspects as
representative examples of our col-
well as metrics for measuring trans-
leagues' research that will stimulate
disciplinary performance. The second
ideas for the pursuit and development
article, "Emerging and Future Science

IEEE SYSTEMS, MAN, & CYBERNETICS MAGAZINE O ctober 2019
IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics Magazine - October 2019

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