This research area group seeks to complement and augment the conventional tools used by mechanical engineers with the emergent tools from the fields of data sciences, artificial intelligence (including machine learning), and informatics. Faculty members of this research area group have expertise in both the fundamental aspects of developing novel artificial intelligence (AI) and informatics tools as well as the application of existing AI and informatics tools to diverse problems in mechanical engineering. The group seeks to advance the mechanical understanding of complex physical systems with the goals of building wiser, more efficient, machines and physical systems.