Intelligent Systems and Automation

Tomorrow, Today

From youth-extending medical interventions to 3D printers that bypass physical barriers with sound, assistant professors at the University of California, Davis, are daring to build the world of tomorrow with visionary research programs.

Bringing Human Communication to Virtual Teaching

What if your next STEM teacher were an AI agent in virtual reality? UC Davis computer scientist Michael Neff combines movement science, gesture modeling and deep learning to create lifelike digital instructors — paving the way for more human embodied learning experiences.

Extracting Rare Earth Elements from U.S. Wastewaters

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA‑E) awarded UC Davis researchers a $3 million grant to develop a bio‑based process that selectively captures rare earth elements from acidic mine‑influenced and industrial wastewater streams. The project is led by Yi Wang, an assistant professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

Team Develops AI Tool to Measure Real-Time Crop Health from the Field

With a quick leaf scan, the AI-powered Leaf Monitor delivers real-time nutrient insights for crops. By replacing weeks-long lab tests, the new tool, developed by UC Davis engineers, can help farmers boost yields, cut fertilizer waste and manage fields with precision and sustainability.