From Selfish Driving to Social Optimality: Insights from a “Nature” Interview with Professor Christos Cassandras
In the modern urban landscape, driving is fundamentally “selfish.” Each driver chooses a route based on personal convenience, often leading to traffic congestion. Distinguished Professor of Engineering, Head of the Division of Systems Engineering, and CISE Faculty Affiliate Christos Cassandras (ECE, SE) is proposing a solution to this problem—transforming cities into integrated “cyber-physical systems” in […]
How a Low-Cost Soft Robot Is Learning to Perform Surgery Inside a Beating Heart
In a leap for minimally invasive medicine, a soft robot is learning to perform delicate procedures inside a living, beating heart—something no human hand could ever achieve. For Assistant Professor Tommaso Ranzani (ME, MSE, BME), who leads this project, it’s the culmination of years of design and experimentation. His team’s latest breakthrough marks one of […]
Unraveling the Hidden Biases of Artificial Intelligence
For years, Boston University computer scientist and CISE faculty affiliate Professor Mark Crovella (CDS, CS, ECE, SE) has studied the invisible forces shaping what we see online. The stakes are high: when YouTube’s recommendation system steers users toward more extreme videos, it can fuel polarization and misinformation. Now, with large language models generating instant answers, […]
Innovative Energy Efficiency: Fisheye Cameras in Smart Spaces
Imagine a bustling corporate office building where energy consumption needs to be balanced with maintaining a comfortable environment for employees. In such settings, traditional methods of regulating air handling systems can lead to inefficiencies and waste energy in unoccupied areas. This is where the research of Boston University Professors and CISE affiliates Thomas Little, Janusz […]
CISE Students Win CSS TC 2024 Outstanding Student Paper Prize
The committee for the Outstanding Student Paper Prize 2024 announced this year’s prestigious award recipients. Among six national nominations, one paper written by two CISE students stood out for its innovative contributions to the field of smart cities. Ehsan Sabouni and H.M. Sabbir Ahmad and their collaborators are exemplars of academic excellence and collaborative spirit. […]
New Artificial Intelligence Program Could Help Treat Hypertension
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death in the U.S, and it is on the rise in this country. Nearly one in two adults have high blood pressure according to the Center for Disease Control. While hypertension is a treatable medical condition, it can be […]
A New Decoder Chip Breaks the Record for Energy Efficiency for Longer Battery Life and Hardware Sustainability
Whenever information is exchanged, whether it is in the form of text, audio, or video, it is transmitted through a medium known as a channel. During this transmission, the information is susceptible to corruption by various forms of interference known as noise. To preserve the accuracy of the transmitted message, it is encoded at the […]
Using Soft Robotics to Increase Safety and Success in Surgery
Lung cancer affects more than 230,000 Americans, and more than 120,000 will die from it every year. However, the efficiency and consistency of lung cancer biopsies are low, reaching nearly 81%, according to a recent study. Professor Sheila Russo, the founder and director of the Boston University Material Robotics Laboratory, works to combat untrustworthy cancer […]
A Breakthrough in Security for Decentralized Multi-Robot Systems
In disaster situations like hurricanes, collapsed buildings, and nuclear incidents, the difference between a one-hour response time and a one-day response time can mean life or death. To mitigate these situations, multi-robot systems (MRS) are being increasingly used in search-and-rescue (SAR) operations. Unmanned robots have assisted in SAR efforts following Hurricane Katrina, the Fukushima Daiichi […]
Cheng & Tian’s Newest Microscopy Advance Published by Nature Communications
Professor Ji-Xin Cheng’s research group has made notable strides in improved chemical imaging technologies, especially for medical purposes, over the last few years. Their latest, the development of a new type of mid-infrared photothermal (MIP) microscope, was published by Nature Communications in December. The paper, co-authored by collaborator and CISE affiliate Professor Lei Tian, Post-Doctoral Associate […]