Welcome to Cognitive Dynamic Systems:
A Way of the Future in the 21st Century!

In November 2006, a point-of-view article of mine on Cognitive Dynamic Systems was published in the Proceedings of the IEEE. The opening paragraph of that article speaks of the emergence of Cognitive Dynamic Systems; it is therefore a propos that I begin the introduction to the research program on Cognitive Dynamic Systems in my laboratory with that opening paragraph, which is as valid now as it was two years ago:

I see the emergence of a new discipline, called Cognitive Dynamic Systems, which builds on ideas in statistical signal processing, stochastic control, and information theory, and weaves those well-developed ideas into new ones drawn from neuroscience, statistical learning theory, and game theory. The discipline will provide principled tools for the design and development of a new generation of wireless dynamic systems exemplified by cognitive radio and cognitive radar with efficiency, effectiveness, and robustness as the hallmarks of performance.

What is truly remarkable about research in Cognitive Dynamic Systems is the confluence of many disciplines, the realization of which has been made possible by the enormous computing power available to researchers today, which can only become more powerful in years to come, thanks to the ever-continuing advances in computer hardware and software.

Simon Haykin,
May, 2008

Three Aspects to Tackling a Research Problem

• Dig deeply into the literature relating to your problem and thereby determine what other researchers have contributed to it.
• Try to define the important issues involved in your problem. In this context, remember that in developing a proper understanding of the problem, you will have almost solved it.
• In solving the problem, the aim should be to make a significant difference to the literature.

Simon Haykin