Federal Grant Award Summary

George Mason University received a $549,205 CAREER (Faculty Early Career Development) award from the National Science Foundation's Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041), effective May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2031. The award funds research to establish a rigorous scientific understanding of motion-based signaling in autonomous multi-agent robotic systems, enabling robots to communicate and influence observer decisions through physical movement alone without relying on explicit verbal or wireless communication. The project delivers theoretical tools and analytical frameworks that integrate game theory, machine learning, and robotics to characterize when and how robot motion can effectively signal intent or capabilities to both cooperative partners and adversaries in strategic interactions.

The deliverables from this project include new theoretical models for analyzing robot-observer interactions as strategic games with hidden information, integration of machine learning techniques to extend insights to larger and more complex multi-agent systems, and practical applications for improving the safety and security of autonomous systems in parcel delivery, transportation, and security operations. Additionally, the award supports broader educational impacts through integration of game theory into hands-on robotics curricula, workshops, and open-source competition platforms designed to broaden participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.