School of Engineering and Science Researchers Secure $7 Million from U.S. Army for Quantum Research and Development

The U.S. Army has awarded a $7 million contract to 12 Stevens faculty to collaborate on the development of quantum systems and related AI technologies that will enhance the capabilities of the Department of Defense. The 12 faculty researchers, led by the Principal Investigator (PI) Associate Physics Professor Yuping Huang, will collaborate to conduct research into quantum and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies relating to quantum sensing, imaging, and data processing.

The funding from the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center will support research and development objectives in seven areas related to quantum photonics, sensing, and AI technologies.

Huang, the director of Stevens’ Center for Quantum Science and Engineering (CQSE), and his research group will leverage years of fundamental research on the development of core quantum quantum technology and hardware to achieve several outcomes which will advance photonic technology to achieve unparalleled sensing and data processing capabilities, furthering quantum imaging and data analysis. This technology can also be modified to provide important sensing tools for autonomous driving and environment monitoring, among other applications. Specific research areas include quantum photonic LiDAR, photonic data reduction for elevated processing capacity and system engineering, photonic AI techniques and systems, and lithium niobate nanophotonics.

To support the quantum and photonic technologies being developed at Stevens and explore their connections with AI, a Stevens team will collaborate to develop new AI and machine learning (ML) tools, including objective identification using photonic LIDAR images, AI/ML-assisted design of integrated photonics devices and systems, data fusion of LIDAR and commercial cameras, and AI/ML-assisted additive manufacturing. The team members collaborating on this research are Associate Professor and Interim Chair in the Department of Mathematical Sciences Michael Zabarankin (Co-PI), Professor and Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Souran Manoochehri (Co-PI), Director of the Stevens Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Interim Chair Department of Computer Science Jason Corso (Co-PI), and Senior Research Scientist Victor Lawrence (Co-PI), and a team from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering consisting of Professor Yu-Dong Yao and Professor Hong Man.

Meanwhile, another research group of Co-PIs made up of Department of Mechanical Engineering Professor Eui-Hyeok Yang, Department of Physics Professor Rupak Chatterjee, Assistant Physics Professor Chunlei Qu, and Department of Physics Professor and Chair Ting Yu, all associated with CQSE, will explore new opportunities that are enabled or inspired by the quantum photonics techniques and systems developed at Stevens, with the focus on quantum inspired classical laser beams, quantum inspired photonic computing, electron-wave gyroscopes, new 2D materials, and advanced interferometer technologies for position and navigation.

The group’s collaborative efforts could significantly advance the field of quantum science and engineering, as well as new approaches for and by AI, opening the door to an array of beneficial technologies.