FAU wins NSF grant for robotics research and training

Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science has received a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop an integrated research and training framework for AI-enabled robotics and cyber-physical systems. Over four years, the project will combine advanced computing, simulation, data and physical experimentation to help students and researchers develop and test intelligent systems.

Led by associate professor Xiangnan Zhong, the initiative addresses fragmented access to the computing resources, datasets and equipment needed for realistic experimentation. Shared infrastructure will provide digital twin environments, simulation resources, executable notebooks and reusable experimental workflows, allowing participants to move between virtual and physical settings and conduct reproducible experiments.

The framework will build on the Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence’s digital twin computing platform and networked robotic testbed, expanding remote access to research-grade tools. Hands-on laboratories and mentored research will support training across applications including healthcare, autonomous systems and networked robots. The long-term goal is a sustainable infrastructure ecosystem that can extend to additional institutions, application areas and research communities.