George Mason University has received funding from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) under the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) to establish a pioneering neuromorphic imaging and digital twins lab. The grant, totaling $357,868, will support the creation of the Neuromorphic Imaging and Digital Twins Lab at the university’s Center for Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence (CMAI).
This new facility will be the first of its kind in the United States, equipped with specialized hardware for neuromorphic imaging and computing, as well as digital twins technology. The project is led by Harbir Antil, director of CMAI and professor of Mathematical Sciences, alongside Rainald Löhner, director of the Computational Fluid Dynamics Lab and professor of Physics and Astronomy.
The lab aims to enhance research capabilities at George Mason University while also serving local organizations and broader interests. According to Antil, neuromorphic sensors employed in the lab can operate asynchronously to detect changes at the pixel level, allowing for high-resolution imaging in challenging conditions such as motion blur or limited power environments.
This laboratory will not only develop new optimization algorithms but will also serve as a testbed for deploying this technology in practical applications including object recognition and motion detection. Additionally, the lab will function as an open resource for other institutions, including national labs, industries, and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
The project, which began in April 2024, will also include educational outreach through workshops and summer programs aimed at training researchers in using this advanced hardware. The funding period is set to conclude in late March 2025.
