Highlights from the Manufacturing
Engineering Laboratory, April 2007

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Invited Publication by NCSL International's Metrology Journal MEASURE

The editors of MEASURE, the NCSL International's Journal of Measurement Science invited MEL researchers John Song and Ted Vorburger to submit their paper entitled "Verifying Measurement Uncertainty Using a Control Chart with Dynamic Control Limits" for publication. This paper was originally presented at the 2007 Measurement Science Conference (MSC) in January 2007.. In this paper, a control chart with dynamic control limits is proposed for promoting the process of developing and refining an uncertainty budget, and verifying the measurement uncertainty.

Contact: John Song, 301 975 3799

Interactions

NIST Supports For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition

NIST researchers Kevin Lyons (MEL), Kent Reed & Kamel Saidi (BFRL), and Michel Laverne (ITL) mentored a team of students from Col. Zadok Magruder High School's Robotics Team (Rockville, MD). The NIST researchers helped the team of 24 students design and build a robot that can stack inflated tubes on pegs in a "Tic-Tac-Toe"-like configuration. The robot challenge was designed to enhanced student interest in technology. The students and their robot participate in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) in the regional competition held in Annapolis, Maryland, on March 15-17, 2007. The competition consisted of several two and one half minute games where three teams formed an alliance and competed against other alliances. The Magruder team president, Lauren Miller, served as the student ambassador for Commerce Secretary Gutierrez and NIST Director William Jeffrey. They visited many teams in the pit area and made it a point to spend extra time talking with the Magruder team members. Secretary Gutierrez was a special guest speaker for the event and he made a short presentation where he praised the work of FIRST in promoting math, science, and engineering education and the participating students for their commitment to learning.

Contact: Kevin Lyons, 301 975 6550