Life-Saving Devices, Engineered to Act on Their Own
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Technical Committee on Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) awarded the University of Pittsburgh’s Jingtong Hu its Mid-Career Award. Hu was recognized for his ‘‘contributions to embedded systems and fairness-aware AI, advancing energy-efficient and equitable cyber-physical healthcare solutions.’’
Hu, associate professor and William Kepler Whiteford Faculty Fellow in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Swanson School of Engineering, develops life-saving embedded systems that operate inside or on the body. He creates smarter, more efficient devices that function within constraints such as size, battery life, and heat.
“When I was growing up, I would watch shows with characters who could perform magic, who had superpowers to make things function remotely, and it fascinated me,” Hu said. “Today, I’m working to create remote technology that can sense changes and act to save lives on its own.”
Hu has helped transform implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), a device that monitors the heart and, when necessary, provides an electric shock to maintain a rhythmic heartbeat. He developed an architecture for the ICD that efficiently integrates artificial intelligence, so the sensing technology can learn a patient’s unique patterns and respond accordingly. The technology improves decision making.
Hu is currently collaborating with the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute to develop assistive devices that will improve patient outcomes. “We’re working to advance wheelchair and glasses technology to help people experiencing loss of motion or sight,” Hu said.
“I’m honored to receive this award from IEEE – TCCPS and to be listed among these researchers who are transforming cyber-physical systems and building our community,” Hu added.
“Jingtong’s research is making an impact on the lives of people dealing with significant health challenges,” said Alan George, Department Chair, R&H Mickle Endowed Chair, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and SHREC and Pitt Space founder. “He is a tremendous asset to our program and the broader Pitt community, and he is highly deserving of this award.”