Communication dynamics of a two-agent interaction model with applications to human-autonomy teaming

ABSTRACT

Communication is pivotal for the emergence of coordination and cooperation within teams. As a result, communication plays an important role in team dynamics as better communication between teammates can lead to more efficient and successful teams. To better understand communication dynamics and their impact on team performance, we develop a modelling framework of two-agent interaction dynamics in a discrete-time fashion. Our proposed model considers the communications between two agents based on each agent's personality and their individual impact on any received communication. Combined with data, we perform mathematical analysis and bifurcation diagrams to study how agents' personality and training may impact the quality of the team's communications and therefore their performance in task completion. The validations and parameter estimations of our model from data could potentially help us to select team members that could work together efficiently, and train members in the established team to collaborate better.

KEYWORDS:

• Communication dynamics
• mathematical modelling
• discrete model
• model validation
• parameter estimation
• human behaviour

MATHEMATICS SUBJECT CLASSIFICATIONS:

• 39-08
• 39A60

Acknowledgments

We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr Jim Cushing on the occasion of his 80th birthday. His invaluable guidance and support have greatly influenced our research, and this paper is a tribute to his remarkable legacy and profound impact on our academic and professional lives.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research is partially supported by the NSF-MathBio [grant numbers 1716802 & 2052820], James S.McDonnell Foundation (DOI:10.37717/220020472), National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 1227116], and by the Army Research Office through Cooperative Agreement Number W911NF-20-2-0252.