Connecting computing systems with the outside world.
Cyber-physical systems aim to connect technologies, such as robots, with the physical world. The collaboratory on cyber-physical technologies conducts research on fundamental technologies, including design of new mechanisms using new materials, integration of sensors and mechanisms, new methods for control and integration of embedded systems at the edge, as well as integration of all of these technologies into cyber-physical systems.
Interaction with the physical world requires a mechanism, a way to control it, sensors to understand the change to the world and computation to enable the integration of perception, planning, and control for a system. The integration of these technologies is encapsulated by the general concept of cyber-physical systems.