Katie J. Parnell

About

Dr. Katie J. Parnell is a leading researcher at the intersection of human factors engineering and autonomous systems, with a focus on the critical challenges of human–automation interaction. Her work primarily addresses the trust, resilience, and normative decision-making required for safe and effective operations in uncrewed air systems (UAS) and human-swarm teams. Dr. Parnell’s major contributions include a systematic review on the human factors challenges of handover between levels of autonomy in UAS logistics, which has already garnered 13 citations since its 2024 publication. She has also advanced the understanding of normative conflict resolution in human–autonomous agent interactions, exploring how agents navigate moral risk and value trade-offs. Her research extends to enabling trustworthiness in human-swarm systems through digital twin technology and developing resilient, socially compliant strategies for assistive robots. Dr. Parnell’s work is notable for its interdisciplinary approach, integrating ethical, legal, and social norms into the design of resilient autonomous systems. Her industry-led workshops on human-swarm operations further demonstrate her commitment to bridging academic research with real-world applications, making her a pivotal figure in shaping the future of human-centered autonomy.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Understanding the human factors challenge of handover between levels of automation for uncrewed air systems: a systematic literature review

   13 citations · 2024
2. 2
   Normative conflict resolution through human–autonomous agent interaction

   6 citations · 2025
3. 3
   Enabling trustworthiness in human-swarm systems through a digital twin

   4 citations · 2024
4. 4
   Resilient strategies for socially compliant autonomous assistive dressing robots

   2 citations · 2023
5. 5
   Industry Led Use-Case Development for Human-Swarm Operations

   2 citations · 2022

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links