Daniela Rus, director of the MIT Computer Science and artificial intelligence Laboratory and MIT professor of electrical and computer engineering, was recently named co-recipient of the 2024 John Scott Prize by the City Trusts board of directors. This prestigious honor, steeped in historical significance, celebrates scientific innovation at the same site where American independence was signed in Philadelphia, a testament to the enduring connection between scientific progress and human potential.
The Scott Prize, the first scientific award in the United States established to honor the scientific legacy of Benjamin Franklin, recognized Rus along with professors Takeo Kanade of Carnegie Mellon University and Vijay Kumar of the University of Pennsylvania. The award recognized his research in robotics that has fundamentally changed our understanding of the field, expanding the very notion of what a robot can be.
Rus's work goes beyond traditional robotics and focuses on the development of artificial intelligence that makes sense of the physical world through explainable algorithms. Their research represents a profound vision: creating robots as useful tools that extend human strength, precision and reach, as collaborative partners that can solve real-world challenges.
In his speech, Rus reflected on his time as a graduate student, where he reflected that the potential of intelligent machines lies in the synergy between the body and the brain. “The capabilities of a robot are defined by its physical body and the intelligence that controls it. For the past decades, I have dedicated my research to the development of mechanical and cognitive systems of robots, working alongside brilliant students, collaborators and friends who share this transformative vision,” he said.
Their projects illustrate this commitment. The MiniSurgeon is a small, ingestible origami robot that can remove dangerous button batteries from children's systems. Soft robotic creatures like fish and sea turtles enable unprecedented aquatic exploration. Modular robotic ships can self-assemble into bridges and platforms, demonstrating adaptive intelligence. More recently, he helped invent liquid neural networks, inspired by the elegantly simple neural system of a tiny worm. By designing algorithms that can operate with as few as 19 neurons, Rus has demonstrated how machines can navigate complex environments with remarkable efficiency.
When asked about her most impactful work, Rus was unequivocal in saying that it wasn't the metal robots, but the students and researchers she was able to support and mentor. This statement sums up its deepest mission: to not only advance technology, but also nurture the next generation of minds.
“The hardest problems in ai and robotics,” he says, “require long-term thinking and dedication. A robot must not only perceive the world but understand it, decide how to act and navigate interactions with people and other robots.”
The John Scott Prize celebrates not only individual achievement, but also the meeting of scientific exploration and compassionate innovation, as demonstrated by past winners including Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, the Wright Brothers, Marie Curie, Guglielmo Marconi and others. 20 Nobel Prize winners.
