Intelligent Systems
Intelligent Systems research group (ISRG) bridges the gap between theoretical AI foundations and real-time deployment in safety-critical systems.
Research group focus
The Intelligent Systems research group (ISRG) members specialise in cutting-edge research in areas including:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Distributed Systems
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Edge Cloud Computing
- Distributed Machine Learning
- Game Engineering, and
- Security
Combining expertise in these interconnected fields, we develop efficient, and secure technologies that allow intelligent devices and systems to collaborate seamlessly across the computing continuum. These range from IoT and edge devices to large-scale cloud and high-performance computing (HPC) platforms.
Research impact
Our work combines advances in AI with system design and deployment, enabling intelligent systems that are scalable, resilient, and applicable in real-world environments. We also address critical challenges in safeguarding distributed systems, particularly in Edge AI, IoT, and Federated Learning, by developing robust solutions against adversarial attacks, ensuring trust in resource-constrained, real-time environments.
Our research delivers impact throughout the lifecycle of AI, from foundational methods to deployment in real-world systems. By integrating advances in AI, resilient systems, and systems security with hardware–software co-design and deployment, we ensure that AI systems are not only high-performing but also energy-efficient, expandable, and dependable in practice.
Our work in artificial intelligence advances methods such as large language models, multi-agent systems, federated learning, and agentic AI, with a strong focus on safety and trustworthiness. Research in resilience enables adaptive and dependable infrastructures for AI operating under dynamic and resource-constrained conditions. Work in cyber security ensures the protection of AI-driven and distributed systems through secure architectures, privacy-preserving techniques, and robust design.
Key collaborators
ISRG sits between major projects and initiatives, among which the EPSRC National Edge AI Hub, Newcastle Urban Observatory, and Centre for AI Safety are the most impactful:
- The National Edge AI Hub delivers world-class fundamental research, co-created with stakeholders from other disciplines and regions, to protect the quality of data and quality of learning associated with AI algorithms when they are subjected to cyber-attacks in the Edge Computing environments. The hub has an exclusive research network of 75+ industry partners and 15 leading UK universities, e.g., Imperial College London, University of York, Cardiff University, Leicester University, Nottingham University, and Aston University.
- ISRG conducts groundbreaking research on premier testbeds like the Newcastle Urban Observatory, the UK’s largest urban sensing network, offering for real-time edge computing projects.
- Centre for AI Safety is an innovative new research Centre that will tackle one of the most critical challenges of our time, ensuring artificial intelligence systems operate safely, ethically, and reliably across all sectors of society. The Centre leads interdisciplinary research, engagement and impact across the three faculties of the University: SAgE, FMS, and HaSS.
Group members
Dr Varun Ojha (Group Leader)
Dr Tomasz Szydlo (Group Leader)
Dr Aydin Abadi
Dr Mujeeb Ahmed
Dr Rich Davison
Prof Philip James
Dr Dev Jha
Dr Yinhao Li
Prof Graham Morgan
Prof Shishir Nagaraja
Dr Varun Ojha
Prof Raj Ranjan
Dr Tejal Shah
Dr Husnain Sherazi
Dr Ellis Solaiman
Dr Daniel Sun
Dr Tomasz Szydlo
Dr Rehmat Ullah
Dr Gary Ushaw
Dr Bo Wei