REU site: home embodied AI and robot technology (heart) undergraduate research experience

The National Science Foundation Division of Computing and Communication Foundations awarded Northeastern University $456,638 on October 1, 2026, under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070) to host a 10-week summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site focused on embodied AI and robot technology for home environments.

The award funds an undergraduate research internship program hosted by Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Each undergraduate intern is paired with a faculty member and graduate student mentor to conduct collaborative research on AI and robotics technologies applied to home settings. Research areas span robot learning from human behavior and preferences, multi-robot coordination in domestic spaces, embodied agents providing real-time health interventions, and agents leveraging digital screens in the environment. The program includes empirical testing in laboratory settings to collect data, test algorithms, and evaluate prototypes under controlled, instrumented, yet realistic conditions.

The award period runs from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2029. No sub-awards are planned for this grant.

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics technologies have undergone massive advancements in the last few years. These technologies have evolved from simple automation with single-task robotic cleaners to emerging autonomous, intelligent collaborative robots for the home environment. However, they still struggle in providing useful services in households where spaces are cluttered, layout varies between homes, and every resident has unique needs and preferences. This project introduces undergraduates to research at the intersection of AI and robotics with application to the home. The program provides a 10-week summer research internship, hosted by khoury college of computer sciences at northeastern university (NEU). Each undergraduate intern in the program is paired with a faculty member and a graduate student mentor. They work collaboratively as part of a research team at NEU on innovative research problems in AI and robotics. The REU students will conduct research across areas of embodied AI and robot technologies, from robot learning to human-AI interaction. Potential projects include using equivariant neural networks to enable robots to learn from human behavior and preferences; coordinating multiple robots in the home; enabling embodied agents to provide real-time health interventions; and teaching agents how to leverage digital screens in the environment. Empirical testing in laboratory settings provides an environment to collect more realistic data, test algorithms, and evaluate prototypes in a safe, controlled, highly instrumented yet realistic settings. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.