CoSense Summer Program
The future of engineering innovation came to life during the CoSense Summer Institute (CoSense) this June 2–6, 2025. 22 Georgia high schoolers (grades 10–12) were led by a team of five Georgia Tech undergraduates who all engaged in an immersive technical experience, exploring the intersection of cognitive sensing, artificial intelligence (AI), and human-AI collaboration.
Participants learned how AI sensors and systems are revolutionizing fields from health monitoring to home automation.
Christian Ford, Ph.D. candidate in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and program lead shared, “They built smart systems using Arduino microcontrollers and learned how to solve real-world problems through coding, teamwork, and technical design. It’s not just about the projects, they’re leaving with skills and confidence to lead wherever they go.”
CoSense was co-hosted by two leading Georgia Tech AI research centers, the Center for the Co-Design of Cognitive Systems (CoCoSys) and Center for Cognitive Multispectral Sensors (CogniSense), which are supported by the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) and sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Leading the Charge
ECE Chair and CoCoSys Director Dr. Arijit Raychowdhury delivered an energizing and inspiring lecture to CoSense Summer Program participants, sparking curiosity and excitement among the next generation of engineers. Introducing students to the dynamic field of cognitive systems where hardware and intelligence work hand-in-hand to enable smart, responsive technologies, Dr. Raychowdhury used real world examples to make complex ideas accessible. He showed how their Arduino-based sensing projects connect to cutting-edge innovations in embedded systems, helping students see the bigger picture behind their prototypes and inspiring them to imagine what’s possible when circuits and cognition are co-designed.
Enam Amevo, undergraduate ECE leader (pictured far right) and her team displaying their week long smart home design. This design was able to use sensors to detect rising temperature outside which decreased temperature inside for cooling.
CoSense Program lead, Christian Ford, explains wiring and connectivity to STEM student.
Emily Watson, CoCoSys Program Manager, shares the importance of practice in preparation for final presentations.
10th grader, Charles Dericotte (pictured middle), shared “Being able to turn my ideas into something real was exciting. I want to come to Georgia Tech one day, and this camp made that feel possible.”
12th grader, Christian Foster (far right), stated “I’ve worked with microcontrollers before, but I usually do it on my own. This was the first time I got to collaborate with others who love this stuff as much as I do.”
ECE undergraduate leader, Eyoel Gizaw (pictured middle), discusses Arduino capabilities with students as they are tasked to select and build a SMART module within five days.