News Releases
MEDIA ADVISORY: AI for Public Good: UMD Demo Day Showcases Real-World Innovations
September 16, 2025
Contacts
Media Relations: mediainfo@umd.edu
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Experience how the University of Maryland is shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI) during an interactive on-campus demo day featuring student- and faculty-led projects that highlight AI’s real-world impact, from safer autonomous vehicles to sustainable oyster populations.
Media will have access to nearly a dozen projects, including the chance to:
Drive a Mario Kart-inspired system that tracks and prioritizes safety for autonomous vehicles
Watch dog-like robot “RoboScout” at work detecting vital signs for disaster response
Observe an underwater AI-powered drone that photographs oysters in a neutral buoyancy tank
Call a voice bot that helps people experiencing food insecurity access food
Students and faculty will be on hand to discuss the projects, which reflect more than 60 years of AI innovation at the university. In 2024, UMD launched the Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland (AIM) as a hub for AI collaboration, community engagement, research and policy.
WHO:
AIM leaders
Students and faculty from the A. James Clark School of Engineering; College of Arts and Humanities; College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences; College of Information; Robert H. Smith School of Business; School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation; School of Public Policy
WHEN: Thursday, October 16, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
10 a.m. - Welcome, remarks from UMD leaders
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. - Demos of underwater oyster drones, RoboScout
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Lunch and demos of Mario Kart-inspired system for autonomous vehicle safety, voice bot that helps people experiencing food insecurity, generative AI that turns a hand-drawn image into a photorealistic design
1 to 2 p.m. - Additional demos
WHERE:
University of Maryland (demo location details to come)
Park: Regents Drive Garage
8056 Regents Drive, College Park, MD 20742
RSVP: By Tuesday, October 14 to mediainfo@umd.edu.
About the University of Maryland
The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state's flagship university driven by a community of more than 50,000 fearless Terrapins. As a leading research university and top 20 public institution, UMD is proud to be part of the Association of American Universities. Dedicated to excellence and impact for the public good, the university is propelled by a $1.4 billion joint research enterprise. UMD is the nation’s first Do Good campus, and is consistently ranked for its innovation, research and top-tier academic programs. Located in the National Capital Region, the university offers an unparalleled student experience with federal internship opportunities, hundreds of academic programs and study abroad options, and top-ranked living-learning programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMD’s faculty are global leaders in their fields and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the national academies. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit umd.edu