Autonomy in Complexity: Cognitive Superiority of Human-Autonomy Systems

Abstract

This article introduces the concept of Cognitive Superiority in Emergent, Dynamic, Global, and Evolutionary (EDGE) operations, addressing a critical requirement for Human-Autonomy Systems (HAS) to achieve cognitive superiority in increasingly complex and high-entropy environments. HAS constitute hybrid (artificial and natural) capability elements, each one in need of a level of cognitive fitness that can sustain comprehensive operational situation understanding in the long term. EDGE operations rely on the orchestration of cognitive superiority within human-autonomy collectives, facilitated by high-fidelity sensing, processing, and proactive influence of multidimensional operational variables. By defining Cognitive Superiority as an aggregate of capability elements across human and artificial agents, the paper outlines a technology-agnostic Mission System Architecture (MSA). Traditional military orchestration of operations often suffers from brittleness and catastrophic failure due to its reliance on closed-system logic and a lack of requisite variety. In contrast, this research proposes a shift toward cognitive systemic action, leveraging the Joint Cognitive Command and Influence System (JC2IS) and eight core cognitive functions to sustain comprehensive Situational Understanding. This framework facilitates Human-Autonomy Command (HAC), enabling the HAS-enabled force to navigate stochastic mission perturbations through adaptation, exaptation, and learning, thereby ensuring mission success.