Air Force partnership to fuse AI and materials research

Sitting at the nexus of data science, computer vision, and machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI) has the promise to provide insights from large, high-dimensional datasets that can stay otherwise hidden from traditional data analysis approaches. However, its application in materials science has been comparatively slower than some fields due to the specialized knowledge required to apply AI to physical systems, as well as the wide variety of problems and data types encountered. In an effort to push forward the state-of-the-art in materials science research, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) are establishing a collaborative Center of Excellence. The center will leverage the strengths of the two institutions to develop next-generation aerospace materials, establish a pipeline of research talent with both AI and materials science expertise, and advance the materials science field by integrating AI into materials research and design. The 5-year, $7.5M joint Center of Excellence, named Data-Driven Discovery Of Optimized Multifunctional Material Systems (D3OM2S), is supported by an award from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) and the AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate.