An AI Research Hub for Students

The Florida Atlantic University Gruber AI Sandbox, established by a generous gift from Rubin and Cindy Gruber in 2019, has developed into an artificial intelligence (AI) makerspace, where students can explore AI-based projects and applications.

Located in the S.E. Wimberly Library on the Boca Raton campus and overseen by Florida Atlantic Libraries, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, and the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the Sandbox is home to several research groups, including the Machine Perception & Cognitive Robotics Lab (MPCR) and the Center for the Future Mind. The Sandbox also welcomes students, faculty and staff of all disciplines to come together, brainstorm and collaborate on AI research projects, providing valuable and immersive experiential learning opportunities that translate to high-demand career skills in the rapidly emerging field of AI.

“We were early on to adopt the idea of having a dedicated space for interdisciplinary AI research, particularly one that was student driven,” said William Hahn Ph.D., co-director of the MPCR Lab and associate professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. “If you go back 25-30 years, the internet was brand new. The libraries were a space where you could go get access. In the same way, we are providing all Florida Atlantic students exposure to AI, giving them a leg up in their research and future careers.”

Early on and under Hahn’s guidance, students within the Sandbox developed their first AI model system, a self-driving toy car. Since then, students associated with the Sandbox have helped Hahn build a robotic dog, Astro. Currently, they are programming it to become a service dog that can support first responders, adults with disabilities, and search and rescue operations. This is just one of many projects associated with the Sandbox, which range from health care and agricultural applications to communication tools for non-verbal children with autism and adults with cognitive disease.

Ganesh Shiwakoti, a doctorate student studying mathematics and statistics, is exploring medical image analysis using AI techniques.

“My research aims to develop a fast and accurate medical imaging framework by integrating compressed sensing theory with deep learning to significantly reduce scan time while preserving diagnostic quality,” Shiwakoti said. “This research also has the potential to enhance the quality of care in all areas of medicine by making AI more reliable.” 

Shiwakoti uses the computers at the Sandbox, which offer advanced computing ability and memory compared to those in other computer labs on campus. The room includes desktop computers running Linux, Windows, and macOS, designed for developing and using AI models. Shiwakoti is also a graduate research assistant for the Sandbox, holding office hours in the space to assist students with AI projects, providing technical support, organizing events and conferences, and coordinating with faculty and the library to support interdisciplinary research and innovation.

Michael Ostroff, a physics doctorate student, uses various resources in the Sandbox as part of his research, to develop novel projects. He credits discussions with students and faculty at the Sandbox as helping to shape his studies on General Relativity and Dimensional Collapsar Theory using AI assisted research. Ostroff’s work here propelled him to be accepted to the prestigious Wolfram Summer School at Bentley University in Massachusetts. The summer school offers students the opportunity to explore and create innovative projects in science and technology.

“I genuinely believe that I would not be making these discoveries and having this success if I did not go to Florida Atlantic University and was not part of the Sandbox,” Ostroff said.

To learn more about how Florida Atlantic is helping to propel student success, as well as how Transcend Tomorrow: The Campaign for Florida Atlantic University is working to train more health care workers and create a healthier environment, visit transcendtomorrow.fau.edu.