BU-HRI Collaboration
The Hariri Institute for Computing and Honda Research Institute (HRI) have a multifaceted research collaboration that brings together BU faculty and students with HRI scientists and engineers. Research topics of interest include data privacy, consumer personalization, user control, and more. This collaboration is facilitated through the Center for Reliable Information Systems & Cyber Security (RISCS), one of the federated centers at the Hariri Institute for Computing.
Why We Need This Collaboration
As researchers continue to pursue innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) with a focus on human cooperation, there is a clear need for the consideration and development of capabilities related to data security and privacy. Increasingly, the products we use, including the cars we drive, involve computing capabilities that need new solutions in order to operate safely and effectively.
What We Hope To Achieve
The primary goal of this collaboration is to advance research projects focused on emerging and translational technologies in a variety of areas, including data privacy, consumer personalization, and user control. In addition, this collaboration aims to facilitate the dissemination and adoption of innovative research results through colloquia, publications, fellowships, and public forums that involve the broader BU and HRI research communities.
To achieve these goals, collaborators have designed a framework for the pursuit of sponsored research, incubated projects, and fellowship and internship programs for students and visiting scientists. The collaboration provides a unique path for academic researchers to work on problems of industrial importance and transition research results into real products. Additionally, it offers experiential learning opportunities for BU students.
Current Opportunities
In an effort to pursue new exploratory development and research, the collaboration sponsors incubated projects, selected annually by the Oversight Committee from proposals submitted by BU researchers.
The RFP seeks multi-disciplinary proposals that explore the design and application of assistance systems that intelligently adapt and personalize their support to human operators, while at the same time protecting users’ privacy and aiding them in maintaining control of their personal data. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Mayank Varia, Co-Director for the RISCS Center, at varia@bu.edu.
Who’s Who
The collaboration is directed by an Oversight Committee with representatives from both Boston University and the Honda Research Institute:
- Azer Bestavros, Director, Hariri Institute for Computing, BU
- Ran Canetti, Co-Director, RISCS Center, Hariri Institute for Computing, BU
- Mayank Varia, Co-Director, RISCS Center, Hariri Institute for Computing, BU
- Bernhard Sendoff, President, Honda Research Institute Europe
- Hiroshi Tsujino, President, Honda Research Institute Japan
- Jens Schmuedderich, Principal Scientist, Honda Research Institute Europe