Improving Performance and Cybersecurity in an IoT-based System of Systems Integrating Robots and Virtual Human

Two humanoid robots and a virtual human were separately integrated through an loT-based common platform as a system of systems to collaborate with each other for performing a selected real-world task. The task was to collaboratively search for a hidden or missing object in a social setting (e.g., home) for human beneficiaries. Both robots were human-like, but one was more human-like than the other. The virtual human was also made human-like. The robots and the virtual human (called the agents) were made intelligent and autonomous by enriching them with similar functions and interaction modes, and they were integrated through the IoT-based common platform. The agents were then animated via the common platform based on some intelligent control algorithms to perform the selected task in collaboration. The IoT-based platform was then evaluated for performance towards achieving success in the collaboration and maintaining cybersecurity in the IoT network. The cybersecurity assessment results were compared with that when the agents were controlled individually without being integrated via the IoT for the same collaborative task. The results showed that the performance in the IoT -based collaboration was satisfactory in various terms, which proved the effectiveness of the IoT -based integration of the agents as a system of systems. The assessment results also showed higher potential of the IoT -based system to secure cybersecurity over the non IoT -based individual control of the agents. The results can help develop system of systems integrating intelligent real and virtual agents via IoT frameworks to perform real-world complex tasks for humans with higher performance and better cybersecurity.