{"id":7,"date":"2015-11-03T15:53:11","date_gmt":"2015-11-03T20:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.eng.ufl.edu\/faculty-site\/?page_id=7"},"modified":"2026-04-02T01:34:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T06:34:28","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/ericdu\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ICIC<\/a><\/p>\n

ABOUT ICIC<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Welcome to Informatics, Cobots, and Intelligent Construction (ICIC) at the University of Florida, dedicated to reshaping the interface between humans and robots to enhance collaboration and operational efficiency. Our overarching goal is to create advanced, intuitive robotic systems that integrate seamlessly into daily activities and professional environments, bridging the gap between human capabilities and robotic potential.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our research encompasses several key areas: refining robotic dexterity to match human precision, exploring human-robot collaboration to optimize cooperative tasks, and advancing human factors engineering to ensure ergonomic and effective interactions. We are particularly focused on developing novel interfaces for robotic collaboration, which include the use of haptics and mixed reality technologies, enriching the tactile and visual feedback necessary for complex interactions.<\/p>\n

In pursuit of these goals, we utilize state-of-the-art technologies such as high-resolution tactile sensors, advanced control systems, and immersive mixed reality environments, supported by the computational power of UF’s HiPerGator resources. These technologies not only enhance our research capabilities but also accelerate the development of practical applications.<\/p>\n

By advancing these technologies, we aim to revolutionize industries from manufacturing to medicine, improving safety, efficiency, and productivity. Our innovations promise to transform the horizon of human-robot interaction, making advanced robotic assistance an accessible and integral part of everyday life.<\/p>\n

Active Projects<\/span>\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Nvidia<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“Tactile Learning for Robotic Dexterity”. September 2024 – March 2026, PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>Nvidia AI Technology Center\/University of Florida. <\/strong>$227,665<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"National<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“SCC-IRG Track 1: Strengthening Elderly Mobility in Urban Landscapes: Towards Age-Inclusive and Equitable Communities<\/a>“. September 2024 – August 2026, Co-PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>National Science Foundation (NSF). <\/strong>$1,600,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"Air<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“Human-Machine Sensory Sharing for Swift Trust in Autonomy”. December 2022 – November 2025, PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). <\/strong>$600,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"National<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“FW-HTF-R\/Collaborative Research: Human-Robot Sensory Transfer for Worker Productivity, Training, and Quality of Life in Remote Undersea Inspection and Construction Tasks<\/a>“. September 2021 – August 2025, PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>National Science Foundation (NSF). <\/strong>$2,090,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"National<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“SearchAR: User Centered Adaptive Augmented Reality for Search and Rescue<\/a>“. June 2021 – May 2024,<\/span>PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).<\/strong> $1,395,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\n\n\n\n
\"National<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“NRI: INT: Collaborative Research: ForceBot: Customizable Robotic Platform for Body-Scale Physical Interaction Simulation in Virtual Reality<\/a>“. Oct 2020 – Sep 2024, PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>National Science Foundation (NSF). <\/strong>$312,985<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

Completed Projects<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"National<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“B2: Learning\u00a0Environments with\u00a0Augmentation and Robotics for Next-gen Emergency Responders (LEARNER)\u00a0<\/a>“.\u00a0September\u00a0\u00a02020 – August 2022, Co-PI
\n<\/u><\/strong><\/span>National Science Foundation (NSF). <\/strong>$4,998,274\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a><\/td>\n“Sensory Manipulation as a Countermeasure to Robot Teleoperation Delays\u00a0<\/a>“. April \u00a02021 – December 2022, PI
\n<\/u><\/strong><\/span>The National\u00a0Astronautic\u00a0and Space Administration (NASA). <\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"National<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“Cognition-driven Display for Navigation Activities (Cog-DNA):\u00a0<\/a>Personalized Spatial Information System Based on Information Personality of Firefighters”. June 2018 – May 2022,<\/span>PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).<\/strong> $465,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"National<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“HDBE: Collaborative\u00a0Research: Personalized Systems for Wayfinding for First Responders<\/a>“. June 2018 – May 2022, PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>National Science Foundation (NSF). <\/strong>$416,333<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\n\n\n\n
\"National<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“Convergence Accelerator Phase I (RAISE): Learning Environments with Advanced Robotics for Next-Generation Emergency Responders (LEARNER)<\/a>“. September 2019 – May 2021,<\/span> Co-<\/strong><\/span>PI<\/strong>
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>National Science Foundation (NSF).<\/strong> $999,327<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"National<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“RAPID: High-Frequency Data Collection for Human Mobility Prediction during COVID-19<\/a>“. May 2020 – April 2021, PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>National Science Foundation (NSF). <\/strong>$66,515<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"National<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“IBSS: Participatory Ensemble Modeling to Study the Multiscale Social and Behavioral Dynamics<\/a>“. August 2014 \u2013 January 2019,\u00a0Co-PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>National Science Foundation (NSF).<\/strong> $999,793<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\n\n\n\n
\"C.A.P.<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“BIM-enabled Augmented Reality for Intelligent Building Inspection“. March 2020 – March 2021,<\/span>PI<\/strong>
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>C.A.P. Government. <\/strong>$80,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"TAMU<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“Hostile Intent Prediction based on Gaze Movement Trajectory in Indoor Navigation\u201d. May 2018 \u2013 April 2019,\u00a0PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>TAMU T3 Seed Grant.<\/strong>\u00a0$35,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"TAMU<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“Enhancing Flood Resiliency in an Underserved Neighborhood\u201d. Oct 2017 \u2013 Sep 2018,\u00a0Co-PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>TAMU Interdisciplinary Research Seed Grant.<\/strong>\u00a0$25,000<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"US<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“Optimize\u00a0Road Preventive Maintenance Decisions based on Running Vehicles\u2019 Vibration Data<\/a>\u201d. May 2018 \u2013 October 2019,\u00a0PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>US DOT – TranSET.<\/strong> $100,000<\/span><\/p>\n

Smart Phone App for Road Damage Detection based on Vehicle Vibrations: CLICK HERE<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"Fiatech<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“Building Information Modeling Supported Building Life Cycle Management: On the Edge of Total Information Management\u201d. Sep 2014 \u2013 Aug 2015,\u00a0Co-PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>Fiatech.<\/strong>\u00a0$68,220<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"Zachry<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“Enhance\u00a0Project Controls by Quantitative Approaches\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0April 2014 \u2013 August 2017,\u00a0PI
\n<\/u><\/b><\/span>Zachry Holdings, Inc.<\/strong> $116,264<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\"UTSA<\/a><\/td>\n\n

“A Cloud-Based Benchmarking Tool for Building Information Modeling (BIM). September 2014 \u2013 August 2015,\u00a0PI<\/b>
\n<\/u><\/span>UTSA INTRA Grant.<\/strong> $5,000.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

THEME 1:<\/strong> Cognition-Driven Intelligent Information System for Complex Civil Engineering Works<\/span><\/p>\n

In many civil engineering tasks, attention, not data, is the scarce resource. While modern information technologies (e.g., IoTs) and visualization methods (e.g., VR, AR) make the generation and communication of large amounts of real-time information about built environments much easier, it also brings a new challenge: information overload. The well-proven Miller\u2019s Law<\/a> shows that in one-dimension judgement tasks (such as temporarily remembering a phone number), an average person can only hold and process 2 to 3 bits of information at one time. The apparent gap between the enormous information processing needs in civil engineering works and the limited processing capacity will significantly affect the productivity, safety and quality of work. This theme of research investigates a cognition-driven, personalized and adaptive IIS that can customizes the format and content of the information to the civil engineering professionals, by a real-time monitoring of the neurophysiological signals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"cIIS\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Figure 1. Cognition-driven Intelligent Information System (click for enlarged picture)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THEME 2:<\/strong> Human-Robot Collaboration in Civil Engineering<\/span><\/p>\n

Human-robot collaboration has been tested in various industries including manufacturing, healthcare, and smart agriculture. This theme of research focuses on identifying the new methods, requirements, opportunities and challenges of Collaborative Robots (Cobot) in Civil Engineering. We envision that the future Cobot in Civil Engineering should enable solutions in which workers directly interact with robots, and have the potential to dramatically transform the future of Civil Engineering works. Cobots have the potential to: 1) provide levels of physical assistance, augmentation, or autonomy needed to support engineering operations; 2) withstand hazardous environments; 3) communicate, integrate, and act on critical\/relevant information to and from various sources; 4) sense and adapt to workers\u2019 changing capabilities and actions; 5) reduce physical, cognitive, and environmental stressors, thereby enhancing their quality of life and career longevity; and 6) improve response efficiency, lower injuries and fatalities, and reduce economic losses. To fully realize and achieve this potential, critical fundamental research is needed to enable cobots to effectively interact with and augment Civil Engineering workers\u2019 performance and to determine behavioral and socioeconomic impacts of cobots in future Civil Engineering works.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Collaborative<\/a><\/p>\n

Figure 2. Collaborative Robots (Cobots) in Future Civil Engineering (click for enlarged picture)<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THEME 3:<\/strong> Self-Adaptive Cyber-Physical Systems for Construction<\/span><\/p>\n

We’re on the cusp of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0<\/a>. The hallmark of Industry 4.0 is the widely use of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), i.e., engineered systems that are built from, and depend upon, the seamless integration of computation and physical components. According to Cisco<\/a>, the number of connected devices on Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)<\/a> will exceed 50 billion by 2020, fundamentally changing the way we live and work. CPS has been well tested and validated in various mature industrial applications, such as manufacturing, where workplace can be explicitly defined and workflow is highly standardized and automated. However, our knowledge about CPS at less-structured and less-controlled industrial workplaces is still primitive. Many industrial applications, such as infrastructure construction (e.g., powerplant projects), are constrained by the unpredictable behaviors of human agents, changing workflows, open and less-controlled work environments, complex and evolving workplace, and non-repetitive procedures. This theme of research aims to investigate a highly dynamic CPS that has a broader adaptability, scalability, usability (reusability) and economics in the less explored construction industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Self-adaptive<\/a><\/p>\n

Figure 3. Self-adaptive CPS for construction workplaces (click for enlarged picture)<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ABOUT ICIC Welcome to Informatics, Cobots, and Intelligent Construction (ICIC) at the University of Florida, dedicated to reshaping the interface between humans and robots to enhance collaboration and operational efficiency. Our overarching goal is to create advanced, intuitive robotic systems that integrate seamlessly into daily activities and professional environments, bridging the gap between human capabilities […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":284,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/page-sidebar-none.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"featured_post":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-7","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/ericdu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/ericdu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/ericdu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/ericdu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/284"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/ericdu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/ericdu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2523,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/ericdu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7\/revisions\/2523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.eng.ufl.edu\/ericdu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}