News & Events

144 News items and Awards found.


  •  NEWS    Best doctoral dissertation award received by Visiting Research Scientist Thiago Serra
    Date: June 4, 2018
    Where: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    MERL Contact: Arvind Raghunathan
    Research Area: Optimization
    Brief
    • Thiago Serra, currently a Visiting Research Scientist in the Data Analytics group, has been awarded the Gerald L. Thompson Doctoral Dissertation Award in Management Science from the Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University. This is awarded each year to honor an outstanding doctoral dissertation involving theoretical, computational and applied contributions in the area of Management Science. One of the thesis chapters, "The Integrated Last-Mile Transportation Problem" was work performed at MERL in conjunction with Arvind Raghunathan during a summer internship. This work resulted in a patent application and will be presented at the 2018 International Conference on Automated Planning and Scheduling (ICAPS).
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  •  NEWS    Mouhacine Benosman joins the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Adaptive Control and Signal Processing
    Date: March 19, 2018
    MERL Contact: Mouhacine Benosman
    Brief
    • MERL researcher Mouhacine Benosman has been appointed as a member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Adaptive Control and Signal Processing.

      The International Journal of Adaptive Control and Signal Processing is concerned with the design, synthesis and application of estimators or controllers where adaptive features are needed to cope with uncertainties.
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  •  NEWS    Andrew Knyazev (MERL) presents at the Schlumberger-Tufts U. Computational and Applied Math Seminar
    Date: April 10, 2018
    Research Area: Machine Learning
    Brief
    • Andrew Knyazev, Distinguished Research Scientist of MERL, has accepted an invitation to speak about his work on Big Data and spectral graph partitioning at the Schlumberger-Tufts U. Computational and Applied Math Seminar. A primary focus of this seminar series is on mathematical and computational aspects of remote sensing. A partial list of the topics of interest includes: numerical solution of large scale PDEs (a.k.a. forward problems); theory and numerical methods of inverse and ill-posed problems; imaging; related problems in numerical linear algebra, approximation theory, optimization and model reduction. The seminar meets on average once a month, the location alternates between Schlumberger's office in Cambridge, MA and the Tufts Medford Campus.

      Abstract: Data clustering via spectral graph partitioning requires constructing the graph Laplacian and solving the corresponding eigenvalue problem. We consider and motivate using negative edge weights in the graph Laplacian. Preconditioned iterative solvers for the Laplacian eigenvalue problem are discussed and preliminary numerical results are presented.
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  •  AWARD    Best Student Paper Award at the International Conference on Data Mining
    Date: November 30, 2017
    Awarded to: Yan Zhu, Makoto Imamura, Daniel Nikovski, Eamonn Keogh
    MERL Contact: Daniel N. Nikovski
    Research Area: Data Analytics
    Brief
    • Yan Zhu, a former MERL intern from the University of California at Riverside has won the Best Student Paper Award at the International Conference on Data Mining in 2017, for her work on time series chains, a novel primitive for time series analysis. The work was done in collaboration with Makoto Imamura, formerly at Information Technology Center/AI Department, and currently a professor at Tokai University in Tokyo, Japan, Daniel Nikovski from MERL, and Yan's advisor, Prof. Eamonn Keogh from UC Riverside, whose lab has had a long and fruitful collaboration with MERL and Mitsubishi Electric.
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  •  NEWS    MERL Researchers Demonstrate New Model-Based AI Learning Technology for Equipment Control
    Date: February 14, 2018
    Where: Tokyo, Japan
    MERL Contacts: Devesh K. Jha; Daniel N. Nikovski; Diego Romeres; William S. Yerazunis
    Research Areas: Optimization, Computer Vision
    Brief
    • New technology for model-based AI learning for equipment control was demonstrated by MERL researchers at a recent press release event in Tokyo. The AI learning method constructs predictive models of the equipment through repeated trial and error, and then learns control rules based on these models. The new technology is expected to significantly reduce the cost and time needed to develop control programs in the future. Please see the link below for the full text of the Mitsubishi Electric press release.
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  •  NEWS    Andrew Knyazev (MERL) invited to 2018 MathWorks Research Summit
    Date: June 2, 2018 - June 4, 2018
    Where: Newton, Massachusetts (USA)
    Research Areas: Control, Computer Vision, Dynamical Systems, Machine Learning, Data Analytics
    Brief
    • Dr. Andrew Knyazev of MERL has accepted an invitation to participate at the 2018 MathWorks Research Summit. The objective of the Research Summit is to provide a forum for leading researchers in academia and industry to explore the latest research and technology results and directions in computation and its use in technology, engineering, and science. The event aims to foster discussion among scientists, engineers, and research faculty about challenges and research opportunities for the respective communities with a particular interest in exploring cross-disciplinary research avenues.
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  •  NEWS    MERL invites applications for Visiting Faculty
    Date: February 15, 2018
    Brief
    • University faculty members are invited to spend part or all of their sabbaticals at MERL, pursuing projects of their own choosing in collaboration with MERL researchers.

      To apply, a candidate should identify and contact one or more MERL researchers with whom they would like to collaborate. The applicant and a MERL researcher will jointly prepare a proposal that the researcher will champion internally. Please visit the visiting faculty web page for further details: http://www.merl.com/employment/visiting-faculty.php.

      The application deadline for positions starting in Summer/Fall 2018 is February 15, 2018.
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  •  NEWS    MERL attends The Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing
    Date: October 4, 2017 - October 6, 2017
    Where: Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL
    MERL Contacts: Elizabeth Phillips; Jinyun Zhang
    Brief
    • Every year, women technologists and the best minds in computing convene to highlight the contributions of women to computing. The Anita Borg Institute co-presents GHC with the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM).

      The conference results in collaborative proposals, networking and mentoring for our attendees. Conference presenters are leaders in their respective fields, representing industry, academia and government.
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  •  AWARD    2017 Graph Challenge Student Innovation Award
    Date: August 4, 2017
    Awarded to: David Zhuzhunashvili and Andrew Knyazev
    Research Area: Machine Learning
    Brief
    • David Zhuzhunashvili, an undergraduate student at UC Boulder, Colorado, and Andrew Knyazev, Distinguished Research Scientist at MERL, received the 2017 Graph Challenge Student Innovation Award. Their poster "Preconditioned Spectral Clustering for Stochastic Block Partition Streaming Graph Challenge" was accepted to the 2017 IEEE High Performance Extreme Computing Conference (HPEC '17), taking place 12-14 September 2017 (http://www.ieee-hpec.org/), and the paper was accepted to the IEEE Xplore HPEC proceedings.

      HPEC is the premier conference in the world on the convergence of High Performance and Embedded Computing. DARPA/Amazon/IEEE Graph Challenge is a special HPEC event. Graph Challenge encourages community approaches to developing new solutions for analyzing graphs derived from social media, sensor feeds, and scientific data to enable relationships between events to be discovered as they unfold in the field. The 2017 Streaming Graph Challenge is Stochastic Block Partition. This challenge seeks to identify optimal blocks (or clusters) in a larger graph with known ground-truth clusters, while performance is evaluated compared to baseline Python and C codes, provided by the Graph Challenge organizers.

      The proposed approach is spectral clustering that performs block partition of graphs using eigenvectors of a matrix representing the graph. Locally Optimal Block Preconditioned Conjugate Gradient (LOBPCG) method iteratively approximates a few leading eigenvectors of the symmetric graph Laplacian for multi-way graph partitioning. Preliminary tests for all static cases for the Graph Challenge demonstrate 100% correctness of partition using any of the IEEE HPEC Graph Challenge metrics, while at the same time also being approximately 500-1000 times faster compared to the provided baseline code, e.g., 2M static graph is 100% correctly partitioned in ~2,100 sec. Warm-starts of LOBPCG further cut the execution time 2-3x for the streaming graphs.
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  •  NEWS    MERL researchers presented 11 papers at ACC 2017 (American Controls Conference)
    Date: May 24, 2017 - May 26, 2017
    MERL Contacts: Mouhacine Benosman; Stefano Di Cairano; Abraham Goldsmith; Daniel N. Nikovski; Arvind Raghunathan; Yebin Wang
    Research Areas: Control, Dynamical Systems, Machine Learning
    Brief
    • Talks were presented by members of several groups at MERL and covered a wide range of topics:
      - Similarity-Based Vehicle-Motion Prediction
      - Transfer Operator Based Approach for Optimal Stabilization of Stochastic Systems
      - Extended command governors for constraint enforcement in dual stage processing machines
      - Cooperative Optimal Output Regulation of Multi-Agent Systems Using Adaptive Dynamic Programming
      - Deep Reinforcement Learning for Partial Differential Equation Control
      - Indirect Adaptive MPC for Output Tracking of Uncertain Linear Polytopic Systems
      - Constraint Satisfaction for Switched Linear Systems with Restricted Dwell-Time
      - Path Planning and Integrated Collision Avoidance for Autonomous Vehicles
      - Least Squares Dynamics in Newton-Krylov Model Predictive Control
      - A Neuro-Adaptive Architecture for Extremum Seeking Control Using Hybrid Learning Dynamics
      - Robust POD Model Stabilization for the 3D Boussinesq Equations Based on Lyapunov Theory and Extremum Seeking.
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  •  NEWS    MERL makes a strong showing at the American Control Conference
    Date: July 6, 2016 - July 8, 2016
    Where: American Control Conference (ACC)
    MERL Contacts: Mouhacine Benosman; Karl Berntorp; Scott A. Bortoff; Petros T. Boufounos; Stefano Di Cairano; Abraham Goldsmith; Christopher R. Laughman; Daniel N. Nikovski; Arvind Raghunathan; Yebin Wang; Avishai Weiss
    Research Areas: Control, Dynamical Systems, Machine Learning
    Brief
    • The premier American Control Conference (ACC) takes place in Boston July 6-8. This year MERL researchers will present a record 20 papers(!) at ACC, with several contributions, especially in autonomous vehicle path planning and in Model Predictive Control (MPC) theory and applications, including manufacturing machines, electric motors, satellite station keeping, and HVAC. Other important themes developed in MERL's presentations concern adaptation, learning, and optimization in control systems.
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  •  AWARD    Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
    Date: March 31, 2016
    Awarded to: Andrew Knyazev
    Research Areas: Control, Optimization, Dynamical Systems, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Communications, Signal Processing
    Brief
    • Andrew Knyazev selected as a Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) for contributions to computational mathematics and development of numerical methods for eigenvalue problems.

      Fellowship honors SIAM members who have made outstanding contributions to the fields served by the SIAM. Andrew Knyazev was among a distinguished group of members nominated by peers and selected for the 2016 Class of Fellows.
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  •  NEWS    MERL Researchers Attend Modelica North American Users Group Meeting
    Date: November 11, 2015 - November 12, 2015
    Where: University of Connecticut
    MERL Contacts: Christopher R. Laughman; Scott A. Bortoff; Hongtao Qiao
    Research Area: Data Analytics
    Brief
    • MERL Researchers Scott A. Bortoff, Chris Laughman and Hongtao Qiao attended the North America Modelica User's Group Meeting, hosted by the University of Connecticut, November 11-12, 2015. Scott Bortoff gave the Keynote Address entitled "Using Modelica in Industrial Research and Development," and Chris Laughman and Hongtao Qiao each presented a paper on modelling of HVAC systems. The Meeting attracted approximately 80 Modelica users from a diverse set of companies and universities including United Technologies, Johnson Controls and Ford. Use of Modelica is accelerating in North America, lead by largely by automotive and similar "systems manufacturing" type companies.
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  •  NEWS    MERL researchers attend International Modelica Conference
    Date: September 21, 2015
    MERL Contacts: Scott A. Bortoff; Christopher R. Laughman
    Brief
    • MERL researchers Scott Bortoff, Dan Burns and Chris Laughman attended the 11th Annual Modelica Conference in Versailles, France. Modelica is a computer language for modelling and simulation of multiphysical systems. There were 421 attendees, with representatives from Toyota, automobile companies, European universities and companies like Dassault. Conference topics included a plenary on cyber-physical systems modelling by Prof. Sangiovanni Vincentelli of UC Berkeley, new libraries for modelling HVAC systems, automobile systems and buildings, and research results for new solvers. An important trend is virtual modelling and simulation of building thermodynamics (scaling up to city districts), automotive systems (autonomous vehicles), and especially Factory Automation: Dassault is investing heavily in this area, focusing on smaller customers, with tools for 3D virtual modelling of assembly lines including machine dynamics (robotics), and in partnerships with Siemens and other European FA companies.
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  •  NEWS    MERL researchers present 10 papers at the American Controls Conference
    Date: July 3, 2015
    MERL Contacts: Daniel N. Nikovski; Yebin Wang; Stefano Di Cairano; Arvind Raghunathan; Avishai Weiss
    Brief
    • MERL researchers presented 10 papers at the American Controls Conference, in Chicago, USA. The ACC is one of the most important conferences on control systems in the world. Topics ranged from theoretical, including new algorithms for Model Predictive Control and Co-Design, to applications including spacecraft control and HVAC systems.
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  •  NEWS    MERL researcher's spam filter finds automobile safety defects at NHTSA
    Date: June 25, 2015
    MERL Contact: William S. Yerazunis
    Research Area: Data Analytics
    Brief
    • The CRM114 Discriminator, an open-source spam filter / text classifier created by William Yerazunis in MERL's Data Analytics group, continues to turn up in interesting places - and apparently one of them is in the US Department of Transportation's process for analysis of car safety defect reports.

      Although CRM114 is usually used as a spam filter, CRM114 has been used to analyze resumes for jobseekers, scanning outgoing emails to detect accidental confidential information leaks, perusing blogs for relevance, scanning syslog files for interesting events, and now, apparently, searching complaints sent to NHTSA to find safety-related vehicle malfunctions.
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  •  NEWS    Fast three-phase load-flow analysis algorithms developed by MERL included in MELCO's Smart Grid Demonstration Project
    Date: February 13, 2014
    MERL Contacts: Hongbo Sun; Daniel N. Nikovski
    Research Area: Data Analytics
    Brief
    • Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced that it has developed energy loss-reduction technology that uses algorithms for fast analysis of three-phase electricity developed by MERL to establish optimal coordination of power-distribution grids for reductions in energy loss and power-generation costs. The technology was achieved under Mitsubishi Electric's Smart Grid Demonstration Project.
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  •  NEWS    Prediction algorithms developed by MERL showcased for automotive HMI
    Date: February 10, 2014
    MERL Contacts: Jonathan Le Roux; Daniel N. Nikovski; Anthony Vetro
    Brief
    • Mitsubishi Electric Corporation demonstrated an ultra-simple HMI for in-car device operation using algorithms developed by MERL to predict user actions and destinations.
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  •  NEWS    MLDM 2013: publication by Alan W. Esenther, Daniel N. Nikovski, Hongbo Sun and others
    Date: July 19, 2013
    Where: International Conference on Machine Learning and Data Mining in Pattern Recognion (MLDM)
    MERL Contacts: Hongbo Sun; Daniel N. Nikovski
    Research Area: Data Analytics
    Brief
    • The paper "Smart Meter Data Analysis for Power Theft Detection" by Nikovski, D., Wang, Z., Esenther, A., Sun, H., Sugiura, K., Muso, T. and Tsuru, K. was presented at the International Conference on Machine Learning and Data Mining in Pattern Recognion (MLDM).
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  •  NEWS    ACC 2013: 7 publications by Yebin Wang, Arvind U. Raghunathan, Scott A. Bortoff, Yiming Zhao, Zafer Sahinoglu and Stefano Di Cairano
    Date: June 17, 2013
    Where: American Control Conference (ACC)
    MERL Contacts: Scott A. Bortoff; Stefano Di Cairano; Yebin Wang; Arvind Raghunathan
    Brief
    • The papers "Sub-optimal Control Design of a Semi-active Vibration Reduction System" by Wang, Y. and Utsunomiya, K., "Adaptive Estimation of State of Charge for Lithium-ion Batteries" by Fang, H., Wang, Y., Sahinoglu, Z., Wanda, T. and Hara, S., "Vehicle Yaw Dynamics Control by Torque-based Assist Systems Enforcing Driver's Steering Feel Constraints" by Zafeiropoulos, S. and Di Cairano, S., "Speed Profile Optimization for Optimal Path Tracking" by Zhao, Y. and Tsiotras, P., "Real-Time Energy-Optimal Trajeactory Generatin for a Servo Motor" by Zhao, Y., Wang, Y., Bortoff, S.A. and Ueda, K., "Global Optimization of Multi-period Optimal Power Flow" by Gopalakrishnan, A., Raghunathan, A.U., Nikovski, D., Biegler, L.T. and "Semismooth Equation Approach to Network Utility Maximization (NUM)" by Bai, L. and Raghunathan, A.U. were presented at the American Control Conference (ACC).
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  •  NEWS    CLIMA 2013: publication by Daniel N. Nikovski and others
    Date: June 16, 2013
    Where: REHVA World Congress (CLIMA)
    MERL Contact: Daniel N. Nikovski
    Research Area: Control
    Brief
    • The paper "A Method for Computing Optimal Set-Point Schedule for HVAC Systems" by Nikovski, D., Xu, J. and Nonaka, M. was presented at the REHVA World Congress (CLIMA).
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  •  NEWS    ICAPS 2013: publication by Daniel N. Nikovski
    Date: June 10, 2013
    Where: International Conference on Automated Planning and Scheduling (ICAPS)
    MERL Contact: Daniel N. Nikovski
    Research Area: Optimization
    Brief
    • The paper "Operational Planning of Thermal Generators with Factored Markov Decision Process Models" by Nikovski, D. was presented at the International Conference on Automated Planning and Scheduling (ICAPS).
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  •  NEWS    WPTC 2013: publication by William S. Yerazunis, Koon Hoo Teo, Bingnan Wang and others
    Date: May 15, 2013
    Where: IEEE Wireless Power Transfer Conference (WPTC)
    MERL Contacts: Bingnan Wang; William S. Yerazunis; Koon Hoo Teo
    Research Areas: Applied Physics, Electric Systems
    Brief
    • The paper "Wireless Power Transfer with Artificial Magnetic Conductors" by Wu, J., Wang, B., Yerazunis, W.S. and Teo, K.H. was presented at the IEEE Wireless Power Transfer Conference (WPTC).
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  •  NEWS    Proceedings of IEEE: publication by William S. Yerazunis, Koon Hoo Teo and Bingnan Wang
    Date: May 15, 2013
    Where: Proceedings of IEEE
    MERL Contacts: Bingnan Wang; William S. Yerazunis; Koon Hoo Teo
    Brief
    • The article "Wireless Power Transfer: Metamaterials and Array of Coupled Resonators" by Wang, B., Yerazunis, W. and Teo, K.H. was published in Proceedings of IEEE.
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  •  NEWS    National Convention of the Information Processing Society of Japan (IPSJ) 2013: publication by Alan W. Esenther, Daniel N. Nikovski, Hongbo Sun and others
    Date: March 25, 2013
    Where: National Convention of the Information Processing Society of Japan (IPSJ)
    MERL Contacts: Hongbo Sun; Daniel N. Nikovski
    Research Area: Data Analytics
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