U.S. Leadership promoted by NSF through funding for AI-focused experimental platforms
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced over $2 million in planning grants for the development of artificial intelligence (AI)-ready test beds. These test beds are designed to be real-world environments that accelerate the design, evaluation, and deployment of AI technologies.
One of these test beds is Mcity 2.0, enhanced by the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The upgrades to Mcity 2.0 aim to support safer and more realistic testing of self-driving cars, drones, and the machine learning systems that power them. The improvements will also explore how to support new services such as delivery drones, robotaxis, and automated charging or cleaning, potentially accelerating the deployment of safer, more reliable autonomous transportation technologies.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick is leading another test bed, STAIRWAI. STAIRWAI combines wireless technology with AI to improve next-generation network performance. The test bed is built on the NSF-funded COSMOS project and will focus on using AI to enhance wireless network management and support the deployment of AI systems.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County is leading the TRACE test bed, using AI, robotics, sensors, and real-time data to enable faster, smarter responses to emergencies like wildfires, earthquakes, snowstorms, and hurricanes. Cornell University is leading the AI4Ag test bed, aiming to advance AI innovations for agricultural and food systems in real-world farming conditions.
Institutions such as universities, research centers, and consortia involved in developing AI-prepared test beds receive planning funds through the U.S. National Science Foundation's Artificial Intelligence Institutes program. The goal is to ensure that AI breakthroughs are tested for impact, scalability, and built to serve the public good.
The program focuses on sectors critical to America's economy and prosperity, such as emergency response, wireless networks, and smart transportation. The initiative is a joint effort led by the NSF directorates for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (NSF CISE) and Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP).
The upgrades to Mcity 2.0 will allow researchers to test algorithms in end-to-end driving scenarios, including interactions between vehicles, people, and infrastructure. The aim is to invest in secure, real-world settings that allow researchers to prototype new AI systems and translate them to the market.
The program could become essential infrastructure for a promising AI-enabled future. By bridging the gap between research and applications, the AI-ready test beds program will help researchers connect with real-world challenges, potentially leading to groundbreaking advancements in AI technology.
