Improving the way computers discern various kinds of images is the focus of new research to be done for the U.S. Department of Defense by ASU’s Geometric Media Lab, led by Pavan Turaga, a Fulton Schools professor and director of the School of Arts, Media and Engineering. The research involves developing robust applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence to specifically enable more accurate and relevant identification of objects and their environments in the various kinds of images. The challenge is to expand the abilities of computers to reliably identify objects in images by teaching the computers to pay attention to the objects’ shapes, along with other important details. This will help the military, for instance, in deciphering what is in certain types of images provided by drones, which are more frequently used to gather information for military and defense purposes. Turaga says the project will benefit from the collaboration of the arts, media and engineering program and the Fulton Schools electrical, computer and energy engineering program.