The goal of this research project is to develop a scalable cyber-physical system (CPS) framework for the integration of physical and computational systems for bridge lifecycle monitoring. Bridge monitoring involves several independent but isolated components. Sharing of information and software modules across different systems is limited. Information sharing and system integration would facilitate meaningful use of data, thereby enhancing bridge operation and maintenance and public safety.

This project features conception, design, and deployment of a wireless network of embedded devices, for monitoring the behavior of animals in the wild.  The system is being deployed and tested in biologically relevant scenarios.

Our overall aim in this project is to synthesize desired behaviors in populations of bacterial and mammalian cells. To this goal, we define the basis of a next-generation cyber-physical system (CPS) called biological CPS (bioCPS). The enabling technologies are synthetic biology and micron-scale mobile robotics. Synthetic genetic circuits for decision making and local communication among the cells are automatically synthesized using a Bio-Design Automation (BDA) workflow.

This project will design and implement a domain-specific language and compiler for microfluidic laboratory-on-a-chip (LoC) devices based on electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWoD) technology. The Lead PI’s team has designed and implemented BioScript, a domain-specific programming language for programmable microfluidics. The BioScript syntax is programmer friendly, with the intention of being accessible to biologists and other researchers and practitioners in the life sciences.

Abstract: This research is investigating a cyber-physical framework for scalable, long-term monitoring and condition- based maintenance of civil infrastructures. Civil infrastructure constitutes a network of interdependent sys- tems and utilities (e.g., highways, bridges, rail systems, buildings) that are necessary for supporting social and economic activities.

Episodic brain disorders such as epilepsy have a considerable impact on a patient’s productivity and quality of life and may be life-threatening when seizures cannot be controlled with medications. We will create a second generation brain-implantable sensing and stimulating device (BISSD) based on CPS principles and practice. The BISSD will be composed of modules placed intracranially to continuously monitor brain state and vulnerability to seizure and intervene with electrical stimulation to block the development of seizure.

The goal of this project is to create a scalable and robust cyber-physical system (CPS) framework for the observation and control of the functional interdependencies between bridge structures (stationary physical systems) and trucks (mobile physical agents). A CPS framework (Figure 1) is being developed to monitor and control trucks within a single highway corridor to manage the imposed loads and the consumption of structural life by trucks on highway infrastructure including bridges.