June 2024 Newsletter
School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence
Part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.
New doctoral degree in engineering to help pros advance
How can busy, professional engineers get the training needed to boost their careers and prepare to lead large teams while remaining focused on their current work?
Ross Maciejewski , director of SCAI, recently announced the launch of the fully online Doctor of Engineering, or DEng, with a focus in engineering management that is designed to provide access to a quality educational program that is flexible enough to be completed in tandem with an engineer’s current work. The program will begin this fall and is now accepting applications.
“The new DEng in engineering management seeks to create a pathway for professional engineers to advance into roles that require highly sophisticated skills,” Maciejewski says. “The asynchronous learning program is designed to be of great value to both engineers and their employers.”
The degree culminates in an applied research project that will ideally be completed in conjunction with the engineer’s work for their current employer or be aligned with current research interests.
?No one left behind: AI-enabled support for aging vets
The effects of social isolation are damaging and can have severe consequences for quality of health. While many aging Americans are at risk of feeling or being socially isolated, veterans are particularly vulnerable.
A cross-disciplinary team of four researchers has united to develop artificial intelligence, or #AI, solutions to improve health care outcomes for aging veterans. Led by Associate Professor Ming Zhao , they have received a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to create EdgeCare — an AI-powered digital assistant that will run on a small edge device in the veteran’s home.
Veterans will be able to enter information about their health, such as chronic conditions and the prescription medications they rely on. Like many fitness trackers, Zhao’s system will be able to gather information like movement and health metrics. Then, the device will learn how to be helpful. EdgeCare might automatically promote memory exercises, suggest physical workouts, encourage the veteran to reach out to friends to improve emotional well-being or recommend community activities.
The team includes Nicole Roberts, an associate professor of psychology in the ASU School of Social and Behavioral Sciences , David W. Coon , associate dean of research initiatives, support, and engagement and professor in the Arizona State University - Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation and Erin Chiou , an associate professor of human systems engineering in The Polytechnic School .
https://news.asu.edu/20240614-science-and-technology-no-one-left-behind-aienabled-support-aging-vets
SCAI associate professor receives NASA grant to connect satellites, sensors and sea vehicles
More than 8,000 satellites in space, thousands of sensors on ground stations and hundreds of underwater vehicles are hard at work, collecting vital information that could help us organize responses to emergency events, prevent disasters and better understand our planet.
Paul Grogan , an associate professor of computer science and industrial engineering in SCAI, has been awarded a grant of more than $1 million from NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration to improve the data collection and sharing capabilities of Earth-observing assets.
Working under the supervision of the?Earth Science Division, a branch of NASA devoted to collecting critical planetary data and using that information to improve human life, Grogan is developing a Novel Observing Strategies Testbed, or NOS-T, that will create a sort of Earth science internet. The end goal is to empower researchers to go beyond collecting data and enable them to quickly process it and act on what it reveals.
Acclaimed mathematician awarded provisional AI patent
SCAI researchers are looking to the future, driving innovation in the AI arena.
Dimitri Bertsekas , a professor of computer science in SCAI, has been awarded a provisional patent for the development of new algorithms that improve the predictive features of tools like ChatGPT. The goal is to generate the most accurate, helpful results for the user. The new patent builds on the famed mathematician’s prior research in reinforcement learning.
In his early work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bertsekas pioneered several types of important mathematical algorithms, including auction algorithms for optimizing the operation of networks of resources. These algorithms have been widely used in the power, communication and transportation sectors.
The new GPT algorithms are the next evolution of Bertsekas’ work in reinforcement learning.?
“Our algorithms predict next words by looking at the preceding text but also by anticipating future word choices to improve metrics of quality, such as coherence and grammar,” he says.
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Inspirational innovators: Stephen Yau delivers deep computing expertise
The 11th World Computer Congress was underway, and the White House was on the phone again.
Such has been the storied life of Stephen Yau . A professor in SCAI, Yau is a globally recognized computer scientist whose pivotal contributions have paved the way for many modern advancements. His work in the Fulton Schools offers students the unique opportunity to learn and collaborate with luminary figures in engineering.
Highlights:
? Organizer and chair of dozens of international technical conferences, including coordinating efforts with multiple U.S. presidential and vice-presidential offices
? Author of more than 270 research papers
? Mentor to approximately 140 doctoral students
? Past president of the IEEE Computer Society and award-winning editor of Computer magazine
? Winner of the first-ever IEEE Richard E. Merwin Award for distinguished service to the computer science profession
“Yau’s contributions to the computing community are indeed recognized globally,” says Sethuraman Panchanathan , director of the National Science Foundation. “The entire computer science community owes a debt of gratitude for all his efforts in mentoring and motivating numerous students during his stellar career.”
It’s getting hot out here!
An ASU team that includes SCAI Associate Professor Ariane Middel is currently working on a four-year, $2 million National Science Foundation project to better quantify the impact of heat on the human body.
Now, in some of their first results, the team has pioneered better measurements of the heat’s effect on the human body with a customized outdoor thermal manikin, called ANDI, coupled with a state-of-the-art mobile biometeorological station developed by Middel, called MaRTy.
They used insights from this complex, one-of-a-kind instrumental suite to develop cost-effective, simple ways to measure heat radiation at outdoor locations with low-cost sensors (cylinders) to provide critical microclimate data in at-risk areas.
Their studies, published in the journals International Journal of Biometeorology and Science of the Total Environment, showcase innovative approaches to understanding and combating the growing challenges of extreme heat.
Middel also recently spoke to ABC News about her efforts to improve awareness of the dangers of extreme heat.
"Heat is a silent killer. It's the deadliest weather-related killer in the U.S., but it doesn't leave a visible trace of destruction like a hurricane or tornado," she says. "All heat-related deaths are preventable in theory, but it becomes more difficult in practice."
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