SENTRY Hosts a Department of Homeland Security Summer Research Team from City College of New York
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Summer Research Team (SRT) program provides research opportunities to increase and enhance the scientific leadership at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in areas that support DHS’s mission and goals. The research teams consist of visiting faculty and students selected to work closely with DHS Center of Excellence faculty and researchers. Participants receive a stipend for the 10-week summer program.
This year, Professor Zhigang Zhu and graduate student Eltan Samoylov from the City College of New York worked to enhance public safety through their participation with SENTRY in the SRT program, spanning May through July 2024.
Zhu, who participated in the 2016 SRT program with CCICADA, was inspired to re-apply following a collaborative conversation with SENTRY Researchers Fred Roberts and Jie Gong of Rutgers University. The discussion prompted him to wonder how his ongoing 3D computer vision, multimodal sensing, and processing research could be applied to security situations. “We are already working to help people with disabilities navigate large, complex environments like transportation centers,” Zhu says. Working with Gong and Roberts in the SRT program allowed him to apply his research to surveillance and security.
He described the three-stage process of their summer research, which included building accurate digital models, calibrating existing security cameras, and finally integrating these technologies into robotic dogs to provide human assistance in real-time. “In case of an emergency, we can send the robot over to help with the situation, inspect, and assist people,” Zhu explains. This innovative approach aims to reduce the burden on security personnel and provide functional assistance in everyday situations.
Samoylov, a computer engineering master’s student, was inspired to apply for the SRT program after completing a computer vision class with Zhu. His role in the project focused on determining how to calibrate real-world cameras and utilize them to inform the robotic dog, a task critical to the project’s success. Samoylov’s participation in the SRT program has significantly influenced his career aspirations.
Both Zhu and Samoylov found the collaborative aspect of the SRT program immensely rewarding. Participating in biweekly meetings with SENTRY researchers and collaborators gave them new perspectives and ideas. The two enjoyed the atmosphere of academic collaboration these events provided and appreciated the opportunity to connect with researchers from diverse academic disciplines.
Though the SRT program ended in July, Zhu intends to write a research proposal seeking follow-on-funding to continue his work with SENTRY. The experience has opened new avenues for his future research and educational initiatives. As a co-director of the Data Science Engineering program at City College, Zhu plans to incorporate insights from the summer experience into his student’s capstone projects, potentially involving SENTRY collaborators as mentors. He explains, “It’s important to let students get involved with cutting-edge research.”
Pictured, left to right: Eltan Samoylov, Professor Jie Gong, and Professor Zhigang Zhu, working with the robotic dog.
