Individuals working in this area would build integrated environments for computing, communications, and information access over heterogeneous underlying technologies. Specific projects might include sharedchannel wireless networks, adaptive resource management in dynamic distributed systems including mobile systems, improving the quality of service in mobile and ATM environments, a platform for adaptive computing and seamless memory over heterogeneous wireless networks, and reliable and efficient communication on a fast Ethernet cluster.
Computer Systems: Architecture, Parallel Processing, and Dependability
The Computer Systems area encompasses a broad spectrum of research projects that address all aspects of reliable, testable, secure, high-performance computer systems. Specific projects might include designing a super-pipelined single-chip coprocessor for executing multithreaded digital signal processing applications; investigating how to build highly-available and secure computer hardware, software, network, and telecommunication systems; and developing new theory, algorithms, and tools to predict the availability of computer hardware, software, network, and telecommunication systems.
Computer Vision and Robotics
In this area computer engineers focus on (a) visual sensing, in which images of a scene are taken as input and estimates of the three-dimensional characteristics of the scene are output, (b) representation, which addresses efficient visual depiction and communication of the environment, and (c) manipulation of the environment, in which the acquired three-dimensional information is used to perform tasks such as navigation and assembly. Applications offer the promise of improved human modeling, image communication, and human-computer interfaces, as well as devices such as special-purpose cameras with versatile vision sensors.
Embedded Systems
Computer engineers working in this area focus on enhancing the speed, reliability, and performance of systems, by means of computer technology - for example, consumer products, and business and industrial machines. Most functions of the modern automobile are controlled by embedded microprocessors. Embedded systems are currently being developed that coordinate systems such as automated vehicles and equipment to conduct search and rescue, automated transportation systems, and human-robot coordination to repair equipment in space.
Integrated Circuits, VLSI Design, Testing, and Computer Aided Design
Computer engineers working in this area focus on enhancing the speed, reliability, and energy efficiency of next-generation Very Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits and microsystems, as well as automating the design process. Projects might include low-power VLSI algorithms and architectures, noise-tolerance for VLSI and DSP (digital signal processors), mixed-signal analog IC (integrated circuit) design, MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) for integrated passive RF (radio frequency) components, electrothermal simulation and electrostatic discharge protection for silicon-on-insulator CMOS (complementary metal-oxidesemiconductor) circuits, and a theoretical exploration of the fundamental bounds of efficiency and reliability of VLSI computation.
Signal, Image, and Speech Processing
Computer engineers working in this area might focus on developing improvements in human-computer interaction, speech recognition and synthesis, medical and scientific imaging, or communications systems. Computer vision tasks such as facial feature recognition, when combined with multimedia databases and novel schemes for representation and compression, are examples of work in this area. Work in speech and language engineering would seek to understand human language faculties and to develop computer systems with comparable faculties. Dynamic MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), fast computed tomography, electron microscopy, laser imaging of ocean mines, and passive radar imaging of aircraft using radio and television signals are among the imaging systems currently being developed. Signal processing projects might focus on developing new advances in hearing aid technology.