The CCC is sponsoring another in its series of “Challenges and Visions” tracks as a Robotics Challenges and Vision workshop at the 9th Robotics: Science and Systems conference June 24 – 28, 2013, Technische Universität Berlin. The Robotics: Science and Systems (RSS) conference has been a venue for presentation of breakthrough results in robotics since its inception in 2005. RSS is the most selective annual venue for timely publication of revolutionary theories and techniques in robotics, achieved through development of novel algorithms and systems. Proceedings of RSS are citable and published both by the MIT press and online. The RSS community comprises most of the top leaders in the field, from […]

As we’ve previously blogged, The Computing Community Consortium (CCC) is turning to the Computing Research community for their input on the needs and potential payoff for further investment in mid-scale infrastructure, investments over $4 million but under $100 million. Examples include GENI, PlanetLab, Orbit, FutureGrid, and Emulab, all of which have transformed computing. The CCC is looking to answer the following question. What sort of investment in mid-scale infrastructure can you envision that would drive computing forward? It is our intention to host a workshop where the white papers would be presented, and approach NSF and other funding agencies to act on the (pending) demand for mid-scale infrastructure research funding. White […]

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued a new solicitation – Integrated NSF Support Promoting Interdisciplinary Research and Education (INSPIRE) – that aims to address some of the most complicated and pressing scientific problems that lie at the intersection of traditional disciplines. It is intended to encourage investigators to submit bold, exceptional proposals that some may consider to be at a disadvantage in a standard NSF review process, and is appropriate for any proposal that do not fit existing award mechanisms.  Applications are now being sought for Track 1 awards under this solicitation. Proposals that are responsive to this track will be eligible for awards of up to $1,000,000 without requiring […]

A recent article in Nature, highlights a major challenge that computer engineers are facing. As the size of microcircuits decreases, their temperature rises. They must now find new and innovative ways to keep cutting edge computer parts cool.   Current trends suggest that the next milestone in computing — an exaflop machine performing at 1018 flops — would consume hundreds of megawatts of power (equivalent to the output of a small nuclear plant) and turn virtually all of that energy into heat.   Increasingly, heat looms as the single largest obstacle to computing’s continued advancement. The problem is fundamental: the smaller and more densely packed circuits become, the hotter they […]

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has issued a new solicitation – Interdisciplinary Research in Hazards and Disasters, or HazardSEES – that aims to foster the science and engineering necessary to improve our understanding of natural and technological hazards linked to natural phenomena.  Proposals responsive to this program (which is one of several recent opportunities posted under NSF’s multi-year, Foundation-wide Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES) initiative) should describe (1) innovative interdisciplinary research that advances our understanding of the causes, interdependencies, impacts, and cumulative effects of these hazards on individuals, the natural and built environment, and society as a whole, and (2) mechanisms for improving capabilities for forecasting or predicting hazards, […]

At last week’s meeting of the Council of the Computing Community Consortium – held at Microsoft Research in Redmond WA – UC Berkeley’s Eric Brewer gave an inspirational presentation about the ability of students to design and build “whole systems.” Simply looking at the slides can’t possibly do justice to Eric’s presentation – especially since Eric agreed to an informal discussion-oriented session.  But the slides are here. The basic theme:  smartphones, 3D printers, Arduino, the “maker” culture, etc., are creating a revolution – a “gadget” and/or “whole system” revolution.  We in academia are behind the 8-ball, and we should catch up.  The result will be more and better students. Eric […]