Darpa up to the Challenge (Pdf)
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CORNELL ENGINEERING 2005 FALL Upto the Challenge Harnessing bio data Saturn’s secrets Birth of the iPod Message from the Dean ornell University’s College of n We have launched a redesigned website, n We are producing a new fact brochure Engineering, the preeminent www.engineering.cornell.edu, with that will provide a quick check of the C engineering school in the Ivy improved navigation, expanded content, vital statistics of the college—thumbnail League, has a long history of excellence and up-to-date news and events. metrics that will help us chart our in undergraduate and graduate education n Starting with this issue, we’ve progress. within the context of a uniquely broad redesigned Cornell Engineering n We are developing a video presentation and renowned research-intensive Magazine to better communicate in which faculty, students, alumni, university. Our strengths have developed the excitement of our research and and corporate partners share with from cutting-edge discovery, a genuine the commitment of our academic viewers the unique aspects of Cornell commitment to students, and a sincere community to educating the next Engineering that brought them to the desire to contribute to society. We are generation of leaders, innovators, college and the wealth of opportunities global leaders in the discovery of new scholars. available here for collaboration in knowledge and creation of transforming n We have published a strategic plan that research and education. inventions, the development of innovative will guide the college’s priorities and interdisciplinary research and programs, initiatives for the next ten years. This is Together, these initiatives will provide a and the education of students who a dynamic document that will continue clear picture of where we are, how we got will better the future. Never before has to grow and change, adapting to new here, and where we are going. The brochure there been such a great opportunity knowledge and discoveries as the future included with the initial distribution of this for creativity, innovation, and rapid unfolds. issue of Cornell Engineering Magazine is a breakthrough discovery. synopsis of the strategic plan. The complete n We have in press a publication to plan and the brochure are available online: describe our research directions and Reflecting the dynamic pace of innovation www.engineering.cornell.edu/strategicplan. to showcase our faculty’s interests and in the college, we are refocusing our We invite you to visit the web site to review accomplishments in projects that will efforts to keep you informed: the plan and to follow our progress as we have a real impact on the quality of work together to place Cornell Engineering in human life. a position of unique transnational leadership. n We are capturing this tradition of Your comments and feedback are welcome. innovation in a history of Cornell Engineering to be published next fall, W. Kent Fuchs as both a tribute to those whose early Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering work established our commitment to Cornell University excellence and a touchstone for those who will carry it forward. C ENG. CONTENTS FALL Features 12 Behind the Music Jon Rubinstein ’78 EE is the person Steve Jobs entrusted with the responsibility of bringing a digital music player —Apple’s iPod— from concept to market. Does that make him 8 The Podfather? Up to the Challenge By Ken Aaron Cornell students hope their autonomous vehicle is headed for pay dirt in the rugged B terrain of the desert Southwest. By Melanie Bush The Rings Revealed “I love to travel, and this 20 is just the greatest way to go,” says Joe Burns; he’s talking about his virtual trip to Saturn aboard Cassini. Data Connections By Kenny Berkowitz ’81 It’s too soon to say that Biozon will unravel the mystery of life, but this new tool is already allowing biologists to gain better understanding of genes and proteins. 30 By Jay Wrolstad DEPArtmENTS News People Hometown At home and abroad: Running the gamut: Hero Cornell heads new AI Faculty join life sciences Cooking Lessons: institute, forms new and provide leadership Working on a solar partnership with India, in biotechnology oven project in renews a contract to and underground Senegal over the manage Arecibo, and infrastructure; win awards summer, Cyprienne begins the search for a new president. for advising, photonics, protein processing, Crowley proved what she already knew: Student teams in racing and robot soccer computer graphics. Students showcase it’s not just about the engineering. deliver a one-two punch to the competition. their research and study the sky. An alumnus leaves his mark. news C ENG.NEWS FALL FALL 2005 INTELLIGENT INFORMATION New institute launched this year marks Cornell’s preeminence in the AI research community. CHALK UP ANOTHER WIN ornell University’s Formula SAE uppose the computer from the starship Enterprise or the HAL 9000 from “2001, A Space Ben Kennedy race car team won its ninth world Odyssey” had been scanning intelligence data four years ago. Perhaps it would have made the C S championship in May at the Pontiac connection humans missed between terrorists and flight schools. Or suppose such a computer were Nick Fishbein drives Cornell’s car Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich. Cornell has through the skid-pad course, a designing airline flight schedules: You might get home for the holidays a little faster. won the competition three years out of maneuverability test, during the 2005 These are just some of the possibilities of “artificial intelligence,” or AI, which is not really Formula SAE race car competition the last four. It was the 19th year that a Canada, with 812 points. In all, about making computers that talk back but rather about using computers for the things they at the Pontiac Silverdome. The Cornell team has entered. 140 teams from around the world competition concluded May 22 with are good at: dealing with massive amounts of data or problems with a vast number of choices. Cornell winning for the ninth time in The Cornell engineering students participated. These are the sorts of problems that are being examined by Cornell University’s new Intelligent 19 years. scored 906 points out of a possible 1,000 The joy of winning was tempered Information Systems Institute, launched this year with a $5 million, five-year grant from the U.S. in a series of events that ranged from by a report that three students from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). In keeping with university policy, none of the design evaluation to competitive driving, University of Minnesota–Mankato died research will be classified. and they won the SAE Foundation Cup in a highway accident on the way to the Other problems on the table include honoring Cornell alumnus Neil Schlike. competition. Mankato would have driven race against time, usually five cars drive game theory, information retrieval, The team was first in the climactic car No. 28, so each team added a small the course at once, so overtaking and “At one time and automatic verification of software endurance race, won the Bosch Engine 28 to its car, and many teams added a passing skills contribute to a driver’s and hardware, according to Carla Management System Award for its engine Mankato State sticker. success. But engineering is crucial here Cornell wasn’t Gomes, Cornell associate professor of control computer, and took second place The Formula SAE competition, as well: Due to breakdowns, only about even present computing and information science and in the autocross event. sponsored by the Society of Automotive 40 percent of entrants finish the race. applied economics and management, The team brought home $3,750 in Engineers, Daimler-Chrysler, Ford Motor Other driving events included an in AI, but now and director of the new institute. Some cash awards to be applied to next year’s Co., and General Motors, challenges acceleration test, driving around tight 20 other Cornell faculty members are car, plus 18 tires awarded by Goodyear students to design and build a race circles, and autocross, in which drivers we’re being affiliated with the institute, Gomes said, and Hoosier Tire. car and drive it in a series of events. race a short but unfamiliar course. including not only computer scientists recognized as Cornell News Service The second-place team was the The final score is determined by Teams also were judged on their but also faculty in operations research, University of Western Australia with adding points for driving, design, and designs, on a “business presentation” one of the top applied economics, mathematics, and Carla Gomes thanks Northrup Fowler, chief scientist of the 868 points, third was the University of presentation. pitching designs as if to potential engineering. Visiting scientists will be Information Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory Wisconsin-Madison with 853 The climax is a 22-kilometer (about investors, and on what the car would places.” more the rule than the exception, she (AFRL) in Rome, N.Y., for his support in launching the new institute. Looking on are, from left, Robert Constable, dean of points, and fourth was the 14 miles) race over a 1-kilometer (1,094 cost if put into production. added, with at least 10 scheduled to computing and information science; John Graniero, director of University of Waterloo, yards) road course, at speeds up to 60 Al George, the J. F. Carr Professor arrive this year. the Information Institute of the Information Directorate of AFRL; mph. Each team fields two drivers, each of Mechanical Engineering, was principal The institute dedicated its new and Maj. Amy Magnus, program manager at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. of whom drives 11 kilometers (about adviser to the team.