UF’s MIST Center to lead research of smart electronics for emerging 'Internet of Things'

Published: October 8 2014

Category:Research

GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- The University of Florida’s Multi-functional Integrated System Technology (MIST) Center will  play a leading role in researching the next generation of “smart” electronics funded by a National Science Foundation  program that combines federal money with industry investments in strategic research.

As a designated Industry/University Cooperative Research Center, the MIST Center will receive over $880,000 from the NSF and upwards of $4 million from industry and government partners to help power the “Internet of Things.” 

In the last 30 years, the Internet revolution has completely changed how we communicate, exchange money and explore the world.  Access to the Internet has  evolved from the desktop computer to hand-held - and now wearable - devices. Soon, engineers envision an interconnected cyber-physical world, dubbed an “Internet of Things.” The MIST Center will research the materials, sensors, actuators, power sources and electronics that are expected to drive this new era.

“The MIST Center will serve as a nexus for pre-competitive, industry-driven research that will help train Florida students and shape the  ‘smart systems’  of tomorrow,” said Toshikazu Nishida, director of MIST.

The MIST Center is a collaborative center housed in UF’s College of Engineering, with a partner site at the University of Central Florida. It is composed of an interdisciplinary team of faculty from the electrical, mechanical, biomedical, chemical and materials engineering departments. The center directors are Nishida and David Arnold, both professors in UF’s department of electrical and computer engineering, and Jiann-Shiun (Peter) Yuan and Hyoung Jin (Joe) Cho, professors at UCF.

“This is an exciting group that is doing great work,” said Cammy Abernathy, dean of UF’s College of Engineering. “The MIST Center is at the forefront of determining what our personal electronics will look like as we move into the future, and how our economy will evolve around them. The opportunity to work with NSF and industry on this research is a unique and tremendous opportunity for the college.”

The MIST Center will host its inaugural meeting with industry and government partners in December 2014. More information can be found at www.mist-center.org.

 

 

 

Credits

Contacts:

Toshikazu Nishida: nishida@ufl.edu; 352-392-6774

David Arnold: darnold@ufl.edu; 352-392-4931

Writer: 

Jen Ambrose, jenambrose@eng.ufl.edu

Category:Research