RIT Smart Sensor Team Honored

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 24 -- Sensor technology developed at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to enhance the readiness and efficiency of America's military is receiving formal recognition by the National Center for Advanced Technologies.

RIT's Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies (CIMS) is the winner of the 2004 NCAT Defense Manufacturing Excellence Award, given annually for outstanding contributions in furthering defense manufacturing science and technology in the US. It will be presented at the Defense Manufacturing Conference in Las Vegas on Nov. 30.

CIMS researchers have been working with Delphi Corp. on a $3 million "smart sensors" initiative. These sensors, activated on US Marine Corp light armored vehicles (LAVs), provide military commanders with vehicle-performance information from a remote location using wireless transmission. On the battlefield, these embedded systems will monitor vehicle location and fuel load while providing improved capability to detect potential failures in critical operating components before they happen. This can reduce logistics costs by making resupply, maintenance and repair efforts more effective.

The program was highlighted during demonstrations at the Department of Defense Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition in Houston last month.

RIT and its CIMS research team initiated this program to help the Department of Defense develop new sustainable design strategies that extend the life cycle of existing military systems. Delphi Corp. provided advanced sensors that were integrated into RIT's mesh of hardware and software vehicle support systems. Next month, marines stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif., will have an opportunity to test the system firsthand. The Marine Corp is expected to fully implement the technology over the next five years.

For more information, visit: www.rit.edu