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Caltech researchers are diligently examining how to effortlessly meld technology—elements such as sensors, actuators, and microprocessors, in addition to innovative materials—into apparel. Similarly, the social media and technology entity Meta Platforms, Inc. (Meta), has dedicated the last decade to advancing the development of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies, while also probing the foundational science behind wearable tech.
Now, Caltech and Meta have formalized a pact that will unite the Institute’s pioneering research methodology in fields such as materials science, human–computer interactions, sensing and tracking, and machine learning, with Meta’s investigative initiatives examining how individuals engage with integrated technologies. Under the terms of the agreement, Meta has refurbished and inaugurated a 1600 square-foot research facility on campus, led by a faculty member from the Institute, and is financing a range of research endeavors through a grant fund. The initial focus of the new alliance will be on the science behind smart wearables, but it may expand to encompass other areas of mutual interest.
Chiara Daraio, the G. Bradford Jones Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics, who currently has a leave of absence as a Meta research scientist, spearheads the initiative. For several years, she has been collaborating with Meta and has observed firsthand the advantages that Meta provides in partnering with the Institute.
“Caltech shines in fundamental science—addressing challenging, interdisciplinary issues and devising innovative solutions,” states Daraio, who is also an Investigator at the Heritage Medical Research Institute. “Meta must tackle exactly these types of profound scientific dilemmas, motivated by the ambition to create groundbreaking technologies. To fulfill these requirements, Meta presents Caltech with new intellectual challenges and a long-range vision to bolster foundational research and achieve breakthroughs collaboratively.”
Looking ahead, Daraio envisions that much of what we don will become increasingly intelligent. This naturally opens the door to intriguing new inquiries for scientists: What new materials will permit us to integrate hardware technologies into wearables, while ensuring they remain comfortable, efficient, and durable? How do we interpret inputs from various sensors to provide information that is ultimately beneficial to the user? How can we integrate electronic computing devices more effortlessly into everyday life?
“These are fundamental inquiries, offering ample opportunities for interdisciplinary scientific exploration and engineering progress,” Daraio remarks. “This presents an exciting chance for the Caltech community. As a campus, we are compact yet powerful. In terms of intellectual prowess, curiosity, and creativity, we have much to contribute. In exchange, we can draw inspiration from emerging tech needs, application-oriented challenges, and, of course, the resources that this agreement will bring to the broader campus.”
Meta On Campus
A select group of Meta researchers relocated to the new campus-based research facility at the end of March. Situated in the Beckman Institute, the refurbished research area now includes workspaces, conference rooms, and two laboratories designed for experimental research focused on sensing and haptics, the science of creating a sensation of touch through forces or motions such as vibrations. Additional Meta team members are anticipated to arrive and commence work on campus in the upcoming months. Significantly, Caltech students, postdoctoral researchers, staff, and faculty who collaborate with Meta will have the opportunity to work alongside Meta research scientists, utilize Meta equipment, and intern in the Meta space on campus.
Simultaneously, Meta is soliciting proposals from Caltech researchers for gift and sponsored research initiatives. Additionally, there are plans to organize a joint seminar series or symposium to foster interactions among students and researchers regarding challenges and opportunities present in both computing and experimental aspects of the work.
Meta-Funded Projects
Meta has a solid history of financing Caltech research, and these new projects continue that legacy.
One of the projects funded by Meta is directed by Domniki Asimaki, professor of mechanical and civil engineering, in collaboration with Daraio and Kaushik Bhattacharya, the Howell N. Tyson, Sr., Professor of Mechanics and Materials Science. They are investigating the propagation of ultrasound waves on the skin, particularly when a force or pulse is applied. “Research like ours can enhance our understanding of using ultrasound tests to decode touch signals,” Asimaki remarks.
In another Meta-sponsored initiative, Wei Gao, professor of medical engineering, is developing the next generation of emotionally intelligent wearables that merge soft bioelectronics with adaptive haptic interfaces.
“Support from Meta is hastening the conversion of physiological insights into immersive, therapeutic augmented reality experiences that are both tailored and scalable,” states Gao, who is also an Investigator at the Heritage Medical Research Institute and a Ronald and JoAnne Willens Scholar.
Partnering with Industry
In recent years, Caltech has sought to enhance interactions with industry to further the influence, development, and scope of fundamental scientific research in fields aligned with both the Institute’s endeavors and corporate goals, states Fred Farina, Caltech’s chief innovation and corporate partnerships officer. “This collaboration with Meta exemplifies this type of partnership. We’re focused on foundational research and expanding the limits of knowledge, while they are clearly focused on introducing innovative technologies and products into the market,” he notes. “We’re also committed to having an impact on the world and society through these new products and services. To achieve that impact, collaboration with industry is essential.”
The new alliance is designed for swift responses as new inquiries emerge from the research. This collaboration establishes a cohesive framework that encompasses various research domains, effectively streamlining the path to create sponsored projects between Caltech and Meta moving forward. “Ideally, when shared interests ignite an idea, it can rapidly transform into a collaboration and project,” Daraio expresses. “There is considerable enthusiasm on both sides of this agreement.”
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