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Engineering the evolution of the Internet

Many of us don’t realise that the internet is under great pressure. This network of networks is becoming increasingly complex, almost to the point of being unworkable. Human configuration errors are causing more and more major disruptions – far more than even those caused by hackers, for example. Added to that is the pressure of climate change, and extreme weather that can damage networks. The answer lies in making the internet more flexible and robust. Fernando Kuipers, Professor of Internet Science, sees part of the solution coming from a self-regulating internet, in which artificial intelligence (AI) determines the network’s configuration and evolution.

The human factor in software testing – from curse to blessing

Our lives heavily depend on software, from the cars we drive to the bank cards we use to pay. And if that software is solid – that is, well tested so that few bugs reach the user – then our lives are mostly better for it. "But the reality is, unfortunately, that developers are not always willing or able to test their software, and neither are their executives," explains Andy Zaidman. As a professor of software engineering, he is therefore researching better and more robust ways of testing software, taking into account both the technical and the human factor. The goal: simply better software.

Human-Centered Multimedia: making remote togetherness possible

After two years of COVID-19 we all know that communicating through a flat screen is exhausting. Since long before that, professor Pablo Cesar has been focussing his research on highly realistic volumetric video conferencing which will allow smooth, natural, communication and collaboration – making remoteness a thing of the past.

Paint robot Bob Rob serves Delft Blue apprenticeship

Painting is something that we see as an exclusively human skill - a combination of manual dexterity and creativity. Yet researchers at the Faculty of Industrial Design are investigating how far a robot can get in the art of painting. Painting Delft Blue tiles is the latest robotic highlight.

Heritage planning and public participation using AI

Artificial intelligence can lend a hand in heritage conservation. It can analyse the opinions of the public and those of scholars, and determine whether these are reflected in policy documents. In her doctoral research, Mahda Foroughi developed a methodology for doing so. “It is a valuable tool for achieving inclusive heritage planning and can also come in handy in the context of the future “Omgevingswet” – the Environment Act,” she says.

Smart data collected from grandmother’s living room

Chatting with family via a hologram or selecting your own camera angles for your favourite club’s football match. Computer scientist Pablo Cesar is researching how we can make these kinds of applications possible.

Understanding noise – from quantum fluctuations to climate models

Mark Veraar researches mathematical models to reduce the disruptive influence of noise on all kinds of processes.

Increased road safety with high-resolution automotive radar

If it is up to Cicero Vaucher, cars will be transformed into robots with the capability of sensing the environment, thinking, and acting autonomously.

Aad van der Vaart: academic globetrotter touches down in Delft

The academic globetrotter Aad van der Vaart will be working in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science to raise the concept of causality – research into cause and effect – to a higher level.