Kennesaw State University Research Receives NSF Grant for Intelligent Vehicle Computing
KENNESAW, Ga. | Sep 24, 2026
Modern vehicles are evolving into complex computer systems, driven by sophisticated software and artificial intelligence. As these technologies take on more responsibilities, the need for rapid and reliable information processing is critical for maintaining safety.
Kennesaw State University’s computer science researcher, Kun Suo, has secured a $356,782 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant aimed at enhancing the efficiency and security of computing infrastructure in intelligent vehicles.
The project, titled “CSR: Co-Designing Virtualization and System Infrastructure for Efficient Vehicle Computing and Safe Onboard Intelligence,” investigates how vehicle hardware and software can collaborate to effectively process complex data, minimizing delays while safeguarding essential driving functions.
Vehicles today resemble small data centers—they carry out fundamental operations while simultaneously supporting features such as driver-assistance systems, navigation, entertainment, and AI applications. A minor delay or failure in a moving vehicle, however, can lead to severe consequences.
Suo emphasizes the growing complexity of modern vehicles: “We want to make vehicle computing very efficient, very fast, and use fewer resources.”
As an associate professor of computer science within Kennesaw State’s College of Computing and Software Engineering, Suo is dedicated to managing these competing demands.
The research heavily relies on virtualization techniques, which allow multiple software applications to seamlessly share the same hardware while operating in isolated environments. The project aims to develop frameworks that effectively segregate safety-critical functions from less vital services.
The objective is to prioritize the computing power of vehicles, ensuring that safety-related systems receive the necessary protection and attention, while secondary features run independently and without disruption.
The project also focuses on enhancing security protocols, reducing the likelihood that issues in one aspect of the vehicle’s computing system will impact another.
“The biggest challenge is understanding both hardware and software and how the entire system integrates to enhance efficiency and safety,” explains Suo, leveraging his extensive background in the domain.
The research team is tackling these issues from both a hardware and software perspective. One segment of the project concentrates on optimizing AI workloads, including task scheduling and data flow management, while another examines innovative security solutions to isolate applications based on their importance.
Suo’s current work builds on previous research in edge computing, which processes data closer to its source instead of relying on remote cloud servers. He was awarded NSF funding in 2021 and 2022 for efforts that improved efficiency, performance, and energy consumption in edge and Internet of Things computing systems.
This project not only promises a transformative impact on the future of transportation but also offers research opportunities for students at Kennesaw State. Suo plans to involve doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate students, allowing for collaborative engagement in various aspects of the research.
“I’m very excited about vehicle computing and onboard intelligence,” Suo remarks, predicting an increase in integrated intelligence and computing capabilities within vehicles in the future.
– Story by Raynard Churchwell
Photo provided
