Discovery Lab
The Discovery Lab created in Spring 2012 is aimed at developing products for the marketplace. At the same time, the laboratory provides students with the hands-on experiences they need to solve real-world challenges, develops student-led research opportunities, fosters students’ entrepreneurial skills, and trains a new generation of IT professionals who reflect the diversity of South Florida.
“The Discovery Lab provides a platform to develop many new ideas. The lab is comparable in its mission to labs at top universities. We are educating entrepreneurs, sustaining research and, developing products that can be commercialized. We are training the next generation of students with the 21st Century skills they need to succeed.”
– Director Ram Iyengar.
FIU School of Computing and Information Sciences
Discovery Lab mission
- Engage undergraduate students in hands-on learning experiences that solve real-world challenges, thereby strengthening FIU’s positioning as a solutions center.
- Develop student-led research opportunities guided by faculty with experience in systems development.
- Foster entrepreneurial skills among students.
- Train the next generation of IT professionals who reflect the diversity of South Florida, strengthening the School’s dedication to facilitate access to its programs among historically underrepresented minorities.
From left to right: undergraduate students Uwe Cerron, Leo Shao, Irvin Cardenas, Francisco Peleato, Lazaro Herrera, Michael Lazo, Daniela Chavez Guevara and Fernando De Zayas, SCIS Director and Ryder Chair Dr. Ram Iyengar, Visiting Assistant Professor Dr. Jong-Hoon Kim, Associate Professor Dr. Nagarajan Prabakar, Director of Technology Steve Luis and graduate student Sheikh Hossain.
The Discovery Lab provides an infrastructure to promote collaborative research among universities and research organizations across the nation. In addition to addressing a comprehensive set of fundamental research topics, the Lab is pursuing commercialization, distinguishing itself from traditional research labs through its focus on translating research discoveries into technology transfer outcomes.
CIS researchers are currently performing advanced research in the areas of intelligent systems, advanced security systems, autonomous mobile robots, and smart grids. The use of advanced robotics and sensor networks in home and industrial applications presents dynamic opportunities for research discoveries. CIS researchers continue to explore several new promising avenues of research, including the Intelligent Home System, focused on enhancing security and energy efficiency through the power of home automation and robot technology. Additional areas of promise include the Smart Access Control system, designed to provide optimal security, and an autonomous pipeline maintenance robot.
On April 10th, 2012, State Farm awarded FIU’s Discovery Lab lead by Dr. Ram Iyengar, SCIS Director and Ryder Professor, a donation of $50,000 to further the lab’s mission to inspire student innovation. State Farm has designated FIU as one of 20 Universities in the Nation where they recruit exclusively. This grant award was one of only four such grants awarded in the area of IT Systems this year by State Farm.
Students are using exciting new tools such as 3D printers, semi-autonomous and autonomous robotic tools and techniques, and control devices such as iPhones and iPads to create rich multimedia control and analytic systems. CIS will use the latest 3D design tools such as AutoCad Studio and 3D Max and other tools to provide a platform for in-house development.