Research

Faculty conduct research on a broad range of topics, with particular strengths in the following areas:

Advanced Synthetic Characters

Faculty: Konstantine Arkoudas, Selmer Bringsjord, Marc Destefano

Artificial Intelligence

We take AI to be the field devoted to either engineering computational systems whose behavior is on par, or at least approaches, that of humans; or, computational systems whose intelligence is regarded to be at once high by humans but qualitatively different than the capacities seen in humans. Of course, AI can be pursued in different ways. Here, given how we view AI, guidance as to how to engineer the relevant systems often comes from careful study of the cognitive powers of humans, including what forms of intelligence those powers classify as truly impressive. Faculty: Konstantine Arkoudas, Selmer Bringsjord, Nick Cassimatis, Jim Hendler, Bram van Heuveln, Deborah McGuinness, Michael Schoelles, Ron Sun

Cognitive Engineering

Cognitive Engineering is the application of cognitive science theories to human factors problems. Putting cognitive theories to the test of real-world applications is a means of maintaining a focus on the truly important cognitive issues. At Rensselaer, cognitive engineering has two components; (1) research directed at solving applied problems, and (2) research directed at developing engineering tools that others with less cognitive training can use to solve applied problems. Faculty: Wayne Gray, Mike Kalsher, Hans Neth, Michael Schoelles

Cognitive Robotics

Cognitive robotics is a field devoted to engineering robots whose actions are a function of knowledge, belief, preferences, plans, and so on. In short, a cognitive robot acts on the basis of the things that underlie the actions of human beings. Faculty: Konstantine Arkoudas, Selmer Bringsjord, Nick Cassimatis, Brett Fajen, Bram van Heuveln

Computational Cognitive Modeling

Understanding an integrated cognitive system can be very complex. The possibilities for interaction among cognitive, perceptual, and action operations is astounding. The interplay of each of these with the other and with the external world cannot be simply predicted. Computational cognitive models provide a vehicle to manage this complexity with the goal of making progress towards understanding how integrated cognitive systems effect and are affected by their environment. Faculty: Selmer Bringsjord, Nick Cassimatis, Wayne Gray, Hans Neth, Michael Schoelles, Ron Sun

Computational Linguistics

We focus on language use that involves a deep understanding of semantics and intent. Work in the department includes integrating language parsing with reasoning about the world and people's beliefs and desires; logically controlled languages for learning by reading; and using human language to retrieve and analyze information from heterogeneous sources.Faculty: Selmer Bringsjord, Nick Cassimatis

Human and Machine Reasoning

Foci include logic-based and knowledge-based AI, theorem-proving, and psychology of reasoning. The multi-disciplinary group of researchers involved is known as the Rensselaer Reasoning Group, which works out of the Rensselaer AI & Reasoning (RAIR) Lab. Faculty: Konstantine Arkoudas, Selmer Bringsjord, Nick Cassimatis, Jim Fahey, Bram van Heuveln, Deborah McGuinness, Ron Sun, Yingrui Yang, Michael Zenzen

Perception and Action

This area of research focuses on perception with an emphasis on its role in the performance of both routine and skilled goal-directed action. Current research topics include visually guided locomotion in real and virtual environments, the coordination of eye and hand movements, and the integration of perception and action with higher-level cognition (e.g., learning and attention). At Rensselaer, these topics are investigated from various theoretical perspectives, including ecological psychology, dynamical systems theory, and computational cognitive modeling.Faculty: Mark Changizi, Brett Fajen, Bill Puka

Theoretical Neuroscience

The aim of evolutionary cognitive science is to understand the design principles shaping organisms, brains, vision, language and cultural artifacts. Example research questions include, Why is the brain organized like that? Why do we see in color? Why do we have five fingers? Why are letters shaped as they are?Faculty: Mark Changizi