Chandramouli and Subbalakshmi receive NSF grant
research integrates human behavior and CR network design
Melissa Wiegand
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: Campus News
Rajarathnam Chandramouli, Thomas Hattrick Chair Professor of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Stevens, along with his colleague, Professor Koduvayur Subbalakshmi, recently received a grant from the National Science Foundation for their research on "Human Behavior Inspired Cognitive Radio (CR) Network Design." "Cognitive radio systems are intelligent enough to think for themselves," says Chandramouli. They have the ability to sense the environment and self-learn to maximize an individual or group utility function. In a project that requires the study of disciplines such as evolutionary and cognitive psychology, behavioral economics, decision theory and dynamic spectrum access, the research team plans to integrate the fundamental axioms of human behavior into cognitive radio networking research and development.
Anthropologists separate human behavior into two categories: individual and group behavior. A person exhibits individual behavior when he/she places individual needs above those of others. In contrast, group behavior occurs when the benefit of others is taken into consideration. Humans also exhibit rational and irrational behavior. According to the researchers, the majority of existing technological developments are based on the assumption that wireless nodes behave rationally. Chandramouli says, "Game theory is based on the assumption that all players will behave rationally. This theory fails if players make irrational decisions." Therefore new theories, based on human behavior, are needed to study the effects of irrational behavior that could be induced by software viruses or attackers in a wireless network. Chandramouli believes that if a group of wireless nodes begins to exhibit irrational behavior, the network they belong to will change dramatically and become unpredictable. This research project focuses on developing a cognitive radio system that implements and tests different types of irrational behaviors inspired by interactions in a human society, in the hopes that it will result in increased network availability and improved security methods.
Anthropologists separate human behavior into two categories: individual and group behavior. A person exhibits individual behavior when he/she places individual needs above those of others. In contrast, group behavior occurs when the benefit of others is taken into consideration. Humans also exhibit rational and irrational behavior. According to the researchers, the majority of existing technological developments are based on the assumption that wireless nodes behave rationally. Chandramouli says, "Game theory is based on the assumption that all players will behave rationally. This theory fails if players make irrational decisions." Therefore new theories, based on human behavior, are needed to study the effects of irrational behavior that could be induced by software viruses or attackers in a wireless network. Chandramouli believes that if a group of wireless nodes begins to exhibit irrational behavior, the network they belong to will change dramatically and become unpredictable. This research project focuses on developing a cognitive radio system that implements and tests different types of irrational behaviors inspired by interactions in a human society, in the hopes that it will result in increased network availability and improved security methods.