The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has received a $50,000 research gift from Google to support artificial intelligence and robotics work led by Assistant Professor .
The gift will fund Chen’蝉 research in robotic perception, a field focused on helping machines better understand and interact with the physical world. The research includes applications in health-related human-robot interaction, tactile sensing and agriculture.
“This support allows us to explore bold ideas at the intersection of perception and real-world environments, while creating hands-on opportunities for students to work on technologies that could shape the future of robotics,” Chen said.
Human-robot interaction, tactile sensing, outdoor environments
One area of the research focuses on health-related human-robot interaction, including embodied interaction systems designed to support older adults with mild cognitive impairment. By combining 3D vision, perception and adaptive robotic behavior, the work aims to help machines respond more naturally and effectively in real-world assistive settings. This work builds on Chen’蝉 earlier Hawaiʻi Community Foundation-supported research on digital biomarkers for early screening of Alzheimer’蝉 disease using computer vision and artificial intelligence.
Another component explores 3D tactile sensing, allowing robots to gather information through touch. This approach aims to improve how machines detect shape, movement and contact, particularly in tasks that require delicate handling or physical interaction.
The project also targets agricultural use, where robots must navigate complex outdoor environments. The research seeks to improve how machines navigate in fields, identify crops, interpret terrain, and operate under changing lighting and weather conditions.
Funding will support graduate and undergraduate student researchers, as well as equipment, computing resources and experimental testing. The project also provides opportunities for student training in robotics, computer vision and artificial intelligence.
The Department of Information and Computer Sciences is housed in 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa’蝉 .