Computer science and technology

ComText allows robots to understand contextual commands such as, “Pick up the box I put down.”

Robot learns to follow orders like Alexa

ComText, from the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, allows robots to understand contextual commands.

August 30, 2017

“We wanted to create a fabric that is as unique as you are,” Professor Yoel Fink explained to incoming freshman in a packed Kresge Auditorium.

Back to school special

Members of MIT’s class of 2021 get a free backpack — and a glimpse at the future of “smart” fabrics.

August 29, 2017

MIT researchers have developed a system that enables small, safe, aerial drones to read RFID tags in large warehouses at a distance of several meters, while identifying the tags’ locations with an average error of about 19 centimeters.

Drones relay RFID signals for inventory control

System could save retailers billions lost through faulty inventory records.

August 25, 2017

Researchers have come up with a new approach to network monitoring that provides great flexibility in data collection while keeping both the circuit complexity of the router and the number of external analytic servers low.

Monitoring network traffic more efficiently

Programming language plus simple circuit design could let routers report on their own operation.

August 23, 2017

Interactive Robogami enables the fabrication of a wide range of robot designs.

Custom robots in a matter of minutes

CSAIL’s “Interactive Robogami” lets you design and 3-D print origami-inspired robots from 2-D designs.

August 23, 2017

Using machine learning to improve patient care

New CSAIL research employs many types of medical data, including electronic health records, to predict outcomes in hospitals.

August 21, 2017

In experiments, Pensieve could stream video with 10 to 30 percent less rebuffering than other approaches, and at levels that users rated 10 to 25 percent higher on key “quality of experience” metrics.

High-quality online video with less rebuffering

CSAIL’s machine-learning system enables smoother streaming that can better adapt to different network conditions.

August 14, 2017

MIT Professor Saman Amarasinghe’s undergraduate course on initiating and managing open-source development projects had no exams or problem sets. Assignments included consulting with mentors, interviewing users, writing a promotional plan — and, of course, leading the development of an open-source application.

Open-source entrepreneurship

New project-based course lets undergrads lead the development of open-source software.

August 11, 2017

Researchers have devised a new way to monitor sleep stages without sensors attached to the body. Their device uses an advanced artificial intelligence algorithm to analyze the radio signals around the person and translate those measurements into sleep stages: light, deep, or rapid eye movement (REM).

New AI algorithm monitors sleep with radio waves

Patients with sleep disorders could be studied nonintrusively at home using wireless signals.

August 6, 2017

Phytoplankton and chips

Simons Foundation supports enhanced computer infrastructure for MIT's Darwin Project, which focuses on marine microbes and microbial communities.

August 4, 2017

MIT researchers have developed a new design system that catalogues the physical properties of a huge number of tiny cube clusters. These clusters can then serve as building blocks for larger printable objects.

Designing the microstructure of printed objects

Software lets designers exploit the extremely high resolution of 3-D printers.

August 3, 2017

A new system can automatically retouch images in the style of a professional photographer. It can run on a cellphone and display retouched images in real time.

Automatic image retouching on your phone

System can apply a range of styles in real-time, so that the viewfinder displays the enhanced image.

August 1, 2017

Adriana Schulz, an MIT PhD student in the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, demonstrates the InstantCAD computer-aided-design-optimizing interface.

Reshaping computer-aided design

CSAIL’s InstantCAD allows manufacturers to simulate, optimize CAD designs in real-time.

July 24, 2017

Localizing ground-penetrating radar (LGPR) developed at MIT Lincoln Laboratory uses inherently stable subsurface features and their geolocation to locate a vehicle, even in adverse weather conditions. Below the surface, an earlier map can be seen in gray on the left, while a current scan is shown in light blue under the vehicle, and the registered data is shown in blue and green behind the vehicle...

Lincoln Laboratory enters licensing agreement to produce its localizing ground-penetrating radar

Commercial prototypes of the system will be available to the self-driving vehicle industry.

July 18, 2017

MIT researchers have designed new methods for paring down neural networks so that they’ll run more efficiently on handheld devices.

Bringing neural networks to cellphones

Method for modeling neural networks’ power consumption could help make the systems portable.