Electrical engineering and computer science (EECS)

ObjectNet, a dataset of photos created by MIT and IBM researchers, shows objects from odd angles, in multiple orientations, and against varied backgrounds to better represent the complexity of 3D objects. The researchers hope the dataset will lead to new computer vision techniques that perform better in real life.

This object-recognition dataset stumped the world’s best computer vision models

Objects are posed in varied positions and shot at odd angles to spur new AI techniques.

December 10, 2019

MIT students explore the practical application of electromagnetic concepts through 8.02 (Electricity and Magnetism) class experiments.

Schools of Science and Engineering join hands to transform learning

In 8.02 (Electricity and Magnetism), students explore the practical application of electromagnetic concepts.

December 6, 2019

Based on shadows that an out-of-view video casts on nearby objects, MIT researchers can estimate the contents of the unseen video. In the top row, researchers used this method to recreate visual elements in an out-of-view video; the original elements are shown in the bottom row.

Using computers to view the unseen

A new computational imaging method could change how we view hidden information in scenes.

December 6, 2019

Clockwise from upper left: Asu Ozdaglar, Joel Voldman, Arvind, and Antonio Torralba

Restructuring the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

The Institute's largest academic department reorganizes with new leadership as part of the formation of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing.

December 5, 2019

Cornell University’s Paul McEuen gives the inaugural Mildred S. Dresselhaus Lecture on cell-sized sensors and robots.

Paul McEuen delivers inaugural Dresselhaus Lecture on cell-sized robots

Cornell University professor and physicist uses nanoscale parts to create smart, active microbots.

December 4, 2019

Clockwise from top left: seniors Mariam Dogar, Jessica Quaye, and Adedoyin Olateru-Olagbegi, and alumna Jessica Wang.

Three MIT seniors to join 2021 class of Schwarzman Scholars

Two alumni have also been selected; the scholars will study global affairs at Beijing’s Tsinghua University.

December 4, 2019

An MIT-invented model demonstrates an understanding of some basic “intuitive physics” by registering “surprise” when objects in simulations move in unexpected ways, such as
rolling behind a wall and not reappearing on the other side.

Helping machines perceive some laws of physics

Model registers “surprise” when objects in a scene do something unexpected, which could be used to build smarter AI.

December 2, 2019

An MIT-invented circuit uses only a nanometer-wide “magnetic domain wall” to modulate the phase and magnitude of a spin wave, which could enable practical magnetic-based computing — using little to no electricity.

Toward more efficient computing, with magnetic waves

Circuit design offers a path to “spintronic” devices that use little electricity and generate practically no heat.

November 28, 2019

School of Engineering third quarter 2019 awards

Faculty members recognized for excellence via a diverse array of honors, grants, and prizes over the last quarter.

November 27, 2019

Dean Dan Huttenlocher has been working on developing the organizational structure of the new MIT Stephen A. Schwarzman College of Computing. He answers three questions about building the college and offers a glimpse into the new college headquarters.

3 Questions: Dan Huttenlocher on the formation of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing

The inaugural dean shares an update on the process of building a college.

November 26, 2019

With their model, researchers were able to generate on-demand brain scan templates of various ages (pictured) that can be used in medical-image analysis to guide disease diagnosis.

Producing better guides for medical-image analysis

Model quickly generates brain scan templates that represent a given patient population.

November 26, 2019

The 2019 Lam Research Tech Symposium brought together Lam’s global technical staff, academic collaborators, and industry leaders with MIT faculty, students, and researchers for a two-day event on smart systems for semiconductor manufacturing.

Smart systems for semiconductor manufacturing

Lam Research Tech Symposium, co-hosted by MIT.nano and Microsystems Technology Lab, explores challenges, opportunities for the future of the industry.

November 25, 2019

Clockwise from upper left: Megan Yamoah, Billy Woltz, Fran Vasconcelos, Claire Halloran, and Ali Daher

Five MIT students named 2020 Rhodes Scholars

Ali Daher, Claire Halloran, Francisca Vasconcelos, Billy Andersen Woltz, and Megan Yamoah will begin postgraduate studies at Oxford University next fall.

November 23, 2019

Illustration shows the apparatus used to create a thin layer of a transparent, electrically conductive material, to protect solar cells or other devices. The chemicals used to produce the layer, shown in tubes at left, are introduced into a vacuum chamber where they deposit a layer on a substrate material at top of the chamber.

Clear, conductive coating could protect advanced solar cells, touch screens

New material should be relatively easy to produce at an industrial scale, researchers say.

November 22, 2019

An MIT-invented model efficiently and simultaneously optimizes control and design of soft robots for target tasks, which has traditionally been a monumental undertaking in computation. The model, for instance, was significantly faster and more accurate than state-of-the-art methods at simulating how quadrupedal robots (pictured) should move to reach target destinations.

How to design and control robots with stretchy, flexible bodies

Optimizing soft robots to perform specific tasks is a huge computational problem, but a new model can help.