Kennesaw State professor awarded NSF grant to explore brain-inspired computer vision

KENNESAW, Ga.
(Jun 3, 2022) — Kennesaw State College college member Yan Fang will look at the human brain’s capabilities
as he and his learners analysis techniques to make drones and robots improved at tracking
rapidly-transferring objects with no exhausting their limited battery electrical power.

Fang, an assistant professor in the Southern Polytechnic Faculty of Engineering and Engineering Engineering, acquired a prestigious grant for early-career researchers from the National Science
Basis (NSF), which will fund his analysis by means of 2024.

The NSF Pc and Information and facts Science and Engineering Research Initiation Initiative
(CRII) award is remarkably aggressive and provides means to assistance new school customers
start their analysis careers in computer system science and engineering. Fang arrived to Kennesaw
Point out in the drop of 2021 just after earning a doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh
and doing work as a postdoctoral researcher at Ga Tech. 

“I am pleased that Dr. Fang’s work has been identified with this NSF award,” Turaj
Ashuri, SPCEET’s interim assistant dean of research, reported. “This grant award demonstrates
our commitments and efforts to give cutting-edge analysis possibilities to our college students,
which is a part of the University’s strategic progress framework.”

Fang will operate with a Ph.D. student and a couple of undergraduate students on this undertaking.
They will use the just about $174,000 in funding to analysis novel structures of computing
programs, style and design study course modules, and initiate K-12 schooling outreach for nearby minority
substantial college pupils. 

“Dr. Fang’s exploration in neuromorphic processing of visible facts mimics how the brain
handles info from the eyes,” chair of the Division of Electrical and Computer system Engineering Benjamin Klein explained. “This is a pretty fascinating software of artificial intelligence
that will support pcs interpret what they see. We are delighted that NSF acknowledges
the value of this get the job done.”

Compact, battery-powered computing techniques experience a obstacle dealing with sophisticated visual
information.

“We are making an attempt to clear up challenges with visible monitoring,” Fang claimed. “On tiny equipment,
like mobile phones, wearable products, and drones, the battery ability and the computing
capabilities are limited and not pretty highly effective. If your goal is moving rapidly, it
is also complicated to recognize and observe it.” 

Fang described the course of action of visible tracking by evaluating a new dynamic vision digicam
that captures speedy-relocating objects to a frog’s vision, which acknowledges flies as foodstuff
when they are going but does not affiliate them with food items when they are motionless. 

Fang and his learners will get inspiration from the human brain, which can speedily
compute and approach visuals to handle the difficulties that subsequent-era computer
units confront.  

“This investigation is critical mainly because devices like mobile phones and drones, are widely
utilized in our day by day daily life,” Fang reported. “Research that increases the computing functionality
and strength performance of these devices will make them far more intelligent and strong.”

Visible processing responsibilities like detection, tracking, and navigation are important to
unmanned aerial vehicles, robots, surveillance, and protection devices. 

“I come to feel honored to be a receiver of this award,” Fang claimed. “I’m thrilled to begin
this study with far more assets and undergraduate pupils who constantly impress
me with their know-how and suggestions.” 

– Abbey O’Brien Barrows
Shots by David Caselli

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A chief in innovative educating and discovering, Kennesaw Point out University features undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its approximately 43,000 pupils. With 11 schools on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw Condition is a member of the College Procedure of Georgia. The university’s vivid campus society, various population, powerful world wide ties and entrepreneurial spirit attract pupils from throughout the region and the entire world. Kennesaw Condition is a Carnegie-specified doctoral investigate establishment (R2), putting it amid an elite team of only 6 percent of U.S. schools and universities with an R1 or R2 position. For a lot more details, pay a visit to kennesaw.edu.