Empowering the Future of
Autonomous Systems through
Education and Research
Join us at the forefront of research and
innovation in STEAHM disciplines and
AI-powered autonomous systems.
ABout US
WHAT IS ARCS?
California State University, Northridge’s (CSUN) Autonomy Research Center for STEAHM – ARCS – launched in 2020 as a NASA-sponsored, chartered Center of Excellence. Our mission: combine transdisciplinary, university-wide knowledge and talent from faculty, students, NASA, and industry partners to conduct convergence research and collaboration using increasingly autonomous systems (check out more in the box to the right).
Check out our launch below
ARCS’ VISION
Our vision is to be a global leader in education, research and commercialization of increasingly autonomous systems, uncovering new trajectories that impact our society and world. The potential of autonomy and these systems is vast…and the problems that they seek to solve are equally large, complex, and multifaceted.
That’s why we converge across CSUN disciplines to initiate and foster innovative research based on STEAHM:
Want to know more about our recent convergence projects? Check them out here.
WHAT IS AUTONOMY?
“Autonomy” refers to technology that can perform tasks without human control. Think of basic features, like cruise control, and complex systems that can adapt and learn, such as drone delivery. “Increasingly autonomous” systems are ones that become more self-directed over time, gaining the ability to function or make decisions without outside control or external intervention.
At ARCS, we apply impactful increasingly autonomous systems in eight key thrusts, ranging from technology and human-machine teaming to healthcare, sustainability, and trustable autonomy.
Click here to learn more.
THE ARCS COMMUNITY
Student and faculty partnerships are key to ARCS’ success:
- Student Fellows are team leaders who conduct the primary research and supervise/mentor team members. Student Associates work under Fellow and faculty guidance. Everyone develops extensive research, communication, and teamwork skills. Find out more here.
- Our grads are the result of multidisciplinary team research projects, which means they are workforce-ready, highly qualified in their fields, and prepared for leadership roles.
- Our campus-wide faculty are more than just instructors; they’re mentors who provide challenging research opportunities for our students, often leading to published papers and conference presentations. They’re the ongoing “glue” who provide continuity and advancement in their research areas. Learn about Faculty opportunities
Equally important are our collaborators – companies, individuals, and volunteers – who bring expertise, experience, mentorship, and internships to our teams. In return, collaborators benefit from ARCS resources including research assistance, support personnel, and a highly qualified employee pipeline. Learn about becoming an ARCS collaborator here.
MEET ARCS 2.0
As we enter our next phase, we’re excited to launch a strategic expansion to broaden industry partnerships.
MORE THAN ACADEMICS
Our projects fill in the gaps between technology integration and technology innovation.
Our teams provide recommended product designs that will increase adoption, building technology trust to enhance technology acceptance.
We work with the end-users of the company’s products/services to improve compliance with regulations, enriching corporate social responsibility while decreasing
customers’ expenses.
WE’RE SCRAPPY
We’re nimble and adaptable to our partners’ needs. We evaluate existing operations facilities and work hubs to improve collaboration, connectivity and productivity. We apply our tech know-how to provide support and expertise for complex technical systems, including technology integration to support training employees to use AI tools (such as AR/VR, ChatGPT). Here’s a sample:
-
Our RecyKOOL team partnered with WM, the country’s leading waste management company, to understand low community recycling participation, identify recyclables processing issues, and determine how these affect costs and long-term environmental concerns. As a result of their research, the team is now:
-
Creating an educational outreach program to resolve participation barriers
-
Identifying areas where AI and other tech will enhance processing + re-train lineworkers
-
Collecting data to support changing business needs, including cost efficiencies
-
We’re working with the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) on two impactful projects:
-
We’re providing technical integration to retrieve data from a complex system to better generate reports for customers.
-
Through our CONNECT study, we aim to reimagine collaborative workspaces and promote cohesive, adaptable work practices tailored to a hybrid work model, one that can be applied industrywide.
-
We’ve joined with Medtronic, one of the world’s largest medical tech companies, to identify barriers to trust in medical device technology for diabetes management. Our team explored strategies to increase trust among non-users and discover facilitators (e.g., medical professionals) to bolster trust in current users.
ARCS IMPACT AND FUNDING
Through internships and graduates, ARCS provides the qualified workforce industry needs. We prepare and provide students who will contribute in strategic areas, including technology integration to improve existing operations and the business bottomline.
Current funding for ARCS is primarily through grants, collaborations and philanthropic gifts. As we build our commercialization capacity, potential revenue will bolster the economy and amplify applications, resulting in lasting impacts on society’s most pressing challenges and needs.
To learn how you can support ARCS or make a donation, please click here.
WANT TO CONNECT?
Together, let’s explore the issues you face. At ARCS, we love a tech challenge and creating solutions to meet your needs in ways you may have never imagined. Reach out and let’s talk!