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Autonomous Systems

Autonomous systems interact with human partners for extended periods of time, sometimes at remote distances and promise improved safety, reliability, efficiency, adaptability, resiliency,��usability, affordability, and previously unattainable capabilities. Networked cyber-physical systems pervade modern society—From smart vehicles to medical robots, from automated infrastructure to teams of robotic explorers, from mobile devices to connected communities. We investigate how smart, safe, and secure autonomy can expand and exploit the full capabilities of these networked systems. This theme convenes faculty with expertise in robotics, cyber-security, verification and validation, control theory, artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, machine learning, formal methods, and human-robot interaction.

Director: Eric Frew

Imaging Science

Imaging Science will transform society by saving lives through medical imaging, improving industrial safety and productivity through nondestructive testing, increasing integrated electronics performance through fast metrology, and enabling the extraction of resources in environmentally friendly ways through seismic imaging. Our intensive research program aims to produce novel imaging systems and technologies with significant societal impact, technology transfer and commercialization, and innovative educational opportunities.

Director: Todd Murray

Multi-Functional Materials

Camouflage skins, neuromorphic computing, plant-like structures that self-diagnose, and robotic skin that senses touch—such advances are poised to revolutionize the fields of robotics, computation and energy. By combining novel materials, advanced computational architectures, and improved manufacturing capabilities, the fusion of sensing, actuation and computation of biological systems is closer than ever. We aim to establish the science of integration of materials that metabolize energy into distributed sensing, actuation, and computation. This theme will develop artificial systems with biological properties by bringing together campus researchers from across the domains of biology, physics, computer science, material science, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering with open access to industry.

Director: Nikolaus Correll

Multi-Functional Materials Website

Precision Biomaterials

The Precision Biomaterials theme will be a leading global hub in biomaterials technology consolidating fundamental and applied science to drive the translation of clinician- and industry-informed research into next-generation health care products and devices. We will integrate biomaterials design with drug and cell-based technologies to engineer and validate new combinational health care products and translate clinical needs into therapies, spanning from molecular design to medical product design. Through this materials-centric approach, we will provide next-generation, disruptive therapeutic interventions for a broad spectrum of diseases with unmet medical needs.

Director: Kristi Anseth

Quantum Integrated Sensors System (QISS)

In several high-tech sectors of the economy, “quantum” is acknowledged as the next technological frontier. Through investment in quantum technology, governments behave as though the country that leads in quantum will lead the world in the future of technology. Whether or not the forecast is exaggerated, we have an opportunity to lead in the evolution of quantum technology. The QISS theme aims to establish Colorado as the preeminent national resource for quantum applied science and engineering, in quantum technology, and in quantum science and engineering education. The research emphasis is on engineering and translating quantum technologies, in particular quantum sensors, toward practical applications.

Director: Baowen Li

Water-Energy Nexus

The interactions between water, energy, and associated systems have profound impacts on our society. As such, the nexus of water and energy is, and will continue to be, one of the world’s leading long-term technical challenges. The Water-Energy Nexus theme aims to bring together researchers from different disciplines to address the pressing challenges surrounding water, energy and associated systems such as food, land, air quality and climate.

Director: Z. Jason Ren