AI in manufacturing: 10 teams launch projects with internal funding
Seed-networking events foster collaboration in key research areas.
To support projects that explore the intersection of AI and manufacturing, the Bold Challenges initiative at the University of Michigan awarded seed funding to 10 University of Michigan Engineering faculty teams.
Advanced Manufacturing
Michigan Engineering is reinventing U.S. manufacturing for resilience and scale
Among the awarded projects are efforts to use AI to: dramatically cut the time and cost required to certify new shipbuilding components, develop a smart 3D concrete printing system that uses real-time sensor data to detect and fix issues as they occur, and explore how humans and AI can work more collaboratively in smart factories.
Awarded projects include:
AI-Enabled Rapid Certification of Additive Manufacturing Process for Shipbuilding
Zhen Hu, IOE (U-M Dearborn)
AI-Enabled Digital Twins for Closed-Loop Robotic 3D Concrete Printing
Yulun Tian, Robotics
Learn more about the project: Using AI to improve 3D printing concrete
AI-Driven Discovery and Additive Manufacturing of Next-Generation Magnetic Materials
Lei Zuo, NAME, ME
AI-Driven NextG Networks to Support High Fidelity and Responsive Manufacturing
Junaid Farooq, ECE (U-M Dearborn)
Advancing Human-AI Co-Evolution in Smart Manufacturing Systems
Bogdan Epureanu, ME, ECE
AI-Driven Smart Sensing Manufacturing for Underwater Concrete Degradation Inspection and Repair
Xiao Zhang, Computer and Information Science (U-M Dearborn)
Digital Light Processing of Passive Visible Light Tags
Zheng Liu, Industrial and Manufacturing Systems (U-M Dearborn)
Enhancing Worker Resilience in AI-Integrated Manufacturing: Exploring Error Recovery Strategies for Human-AI Interaction Failures
Manhua Wang, IOE
Learn more about the project: U-M researchers improve human-AI teamwork in manufacturing
AI-Driven Efficient Photonic Manufacturing under Uncertainty
Hui Deng, ECE
Machine Learning–Enabled Smart Materials and Manufacturing for Critical Mineral Extraction and Recovery
Jing Tang, ME
The AI Institutes at Michigan initiative provided $42,500 for the teams pursuing projects focused on the future of manufacturing, contributing to a total of $107,500 in awards.
U-M Bold Challenges is part of Michigan Research Launchpad, an effort by the Office of the Vice President for Research to connect researchers with the resources they need to increase their competitiveness for external funding.
Read the full story Bold Challenges awards researchers exploring manufacturing and AI, future of food by Kelsey Keeves.