Cyber-physical Systems with Human-in-the-Loop: A Systematic Review of Socio-technical Perspectives

Understanding and designing Cyber-physical systems (CPS) with humans in the loop (HITL) is a basic cross-scientific research problem with large implications for industry. The current software engineering knowledge already explains how to include the humans in the operation of the machines in terms of interfaces, architectures, adaptive systems, and design methodologies for including the Human-in-the-Loop. This paper extends existing knowledge with a systematic review of socio-technical perspectives on CPS with HITL. The review was software engineering focused, as it searched the body of research on CPS with HITL, and only within that body, those papers that included socio-technical perspectives. The results indicated four main areas in the ST literature. Validating these insights by expert interviews with industry CPS experts showed some alignment and also fundamental differences between the socio-technical literature (ST literature) insights and the industry experts’ viewpoints. The discussion identifies useful crossings between the ST literature and research into CPS with HITL adaption, and touch on the issues of non-alignments in industry practice. The conclusion is that the ST perspectives on the body of knowledge on CPS with HITL has much to offer researchers in terms of innovative ways to look at the HITL, but the literature needs further development before industry experts can effectively use it. Future research possibilities are outlined.