The aim of the Centre for Interactive Intelligent Systems (CIIS) of the University of Plymouth is the investigation and understanding of the interaction between humans and intelligent systems such as autonomous robots, software agents, and interactive interfaces). This is achieved through the design of innovative computing and IT applications that require innovative approaches to systems architecture and interaction. The interdisciplinary and multi-methodological approach followed in the CIIS is based on:

(i) computer simulations of multi-agent systems for modelling the organisation of cognition, the evolution of language and music, and manufacturing modelling

(ii) interactive and autonomous robotics for human-robot communication and robot-robot collaborative tasks

(iii) development of new technology inspired by biological systems for sensing, managing and displaying information, including biologically-inspired vision systems, gestural musical interfaces, brain-machine interfaces

(iv) interactive techniques for visualization of complex information such as neuroscience data

The research aim of the Centre is highly consistent with the current scientific and R&D priorities that have been identified in the UK and abroad:

• the UK Government’s 2003 Foresight Project in Cognitive Systems and the following joint RCUK initiative on Cognitive Systems;
• the EU Framework 7 ICT initiative: “Cognitive Systems, Robotics and Interaction”, and ICT Future Emerging Technologies
• the UK Digital Music Research Roadmap, which defines research goals, challenges and themes for future research activity (CIIS is a member of the Roadmap authoring team funded by the EPSRC).