ERIC ED397703: Engineering Research Centers: A Partnership for Competitiveness.

51 Pages·1996·1.5 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
HE 029 285
ED 397 703
Engineering Research Centers: A Partnership for
TITLE
Competitiveness.
National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA.
INSTITUTION
REPORT NO
NSF-96-23
PUB DATE
96
NOTE
51p.
Engineering Education and Centers Division,
AVAILABLE FROM
Directorate for Engineering, National Science
Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Rm 585, Arlington, VA
22230.
Descriptive (141)
PUB TYPE
Reports
MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Biotechnology; Educational Objectives; Educational
DESCRIPTORS
Technology; *Electronics Industry; *Engineering
Education; Federal Programs; Higher Education;
*Industry; Information Industry; Interdisciplinary
Approach; Manufacturing; *Research and Development;
Resource Allocation; Science Education; *Scientific
Research; *Systems Approach; Technological
Advancement
*Engineering Reseg.rch Centers; National Science
IDENTIFIERS
Foundation
ABSTRACT
This publication consists of colorful data sheets on
the National S:tience Foundation's Engineering Research Centers (ERC)
Program, a program designed to strengthen the competitiveness of U.S.
industries by bringing new approaches and goals to academic
engineering research and education. The main elements of the ERC
mission are cross-disciplinary and systems-oriented research,
education and outreach, and industrial collaboration and technology
transfer. Data sheets on each of the 20 ERCs are grouped into the
following technological areas of emphasis: biotechnology and
bioengineering; design and manufacturing; infrastructure; materials
processing fur manufacturing; optoelectronics: microelectronics and
information technology; and resource use and recovery. Each data
sheet typically includes the Center's name, associated institution,
area of major emphasis, a summary of the research being done, summary
of educational activities, summary of efforts in industrial
collaboration/technology transfer, description of facilities,
director's name, address, e-mail address, phone and fax numbers.
(CK)
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Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
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o .
Engineering
Research
Cent
rs
AVAILABLE
BEST COPY
PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL
Moo ol EthiCSIMAII R000arto ono Impooyomord
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
CENTER (ERIC)
a mts
document has been reprorfuced as
received from the prow or organization
s f
originating it.
0 Minor changes have been made to
2
'TIMM* 1.prOdUCtiOn quality.
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Points of view or opinions stated In this
INPMIMATION CENTER (ERIC)
A....A...a de NA necessarily refeesent
Engineering Research Centers:
A Partnership for Competitiveness
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Promoting the discovery, iMegration. dissemination, and employment of new knowledge in service to society.
immediately and productively to industry. An important
The Engineering Research Centers (ERC) Program of the
feature is active outreach to involve faculty and students
National Science Foundation (NSF) stands as a landmark
including precollege students and
from other schools
in federal support for university research in partnership with
in ERC research and education programs.
teachers
industry. Established by the NSF Directorate for Engineer-
ing in 1985 in accordance with a model envisioned by the
Industrial Collaboration and Technology Transfer--
National Academy of Engineering, the ERC Program
Maintaining a strong commitment to collaboration and
introduced a number of bold new features designed to
technology transfer between the ERCs and their
strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. industries by
industrial partners. The primary emphasis is on
bringing new approaches and goals to academic engineer-
ensuring that the research pursued at ERCs is relevant
ing research and education, and by forging vital new links
to industry needs and that its results are explored in
between universities and industry.
experimental proof-of-concept testbeds designed to
advance the competitiveness of U.S. industry in the
There are three main elements of this ERC mission:
global technological marketplace. The program requires
Cross-disciplinary and Systems-Oriented Research
active participation and long-term commitments from
Bringing diverse engineering and scientific disciplines
industry and other member organizations.
together to address fundamental research issues crucial
Thus, from their inception the ERCs have reflected the new
to the next generation of technological advances in
directions set forth in NSF's strategic plan, which include the
areas that will enhance the international competitive-
development of intellectual capital, the integration of research
ness of U.S. industry. A unique feature of ERC research
and education, and the promotion of partnerships emphasiz-
is its integrated "engineering systems" perspective.
shared risks, and shared benefits. in
ing shared
Education and Outreach Producing a new genera-
many ways the program has redefined the concept of an
tion of engineers who are adept at the cross-disciplinary
academic research center. serving as a model for other
team approach to problem solving; who understand and
centers programs subsequently launched by the NSF, by
share industrial perspectives on research, design, and
other federal agencies, and even by other aovernments.
manufacturing; and who are well prepared to contribute
Design and Manufacturing
Biotechnology/Bioengineering
The major technological areas upon
which current ERCs focus are
Engineering Design Research Center
Center for Neuromorphic Systems
Carnegie Mellon University
Engineering
Biotechnology/Bioengineering
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena. CA
Institute for Systems Research
Design and Manufacturing
University of Maryland
Center for Emerging Cardiovascular
College Park. MD
Infrastructure
Technologies
Duke University
Center for Computational Field Simulation
Materials Processing for Manufacturing
Durham, NC
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi
Biotechnology Process Engineering
Optoelectronics/Microelectronics/
Center for Net Shape Manufacturing
Center
Information Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ohio State University
Cambridge, MA
Columbus. Ohio
Resource Use and Recovery
Center for Biofilm Engineering
Center for Collaborative Manufacturing
Montana State University
Purdue University
West Lafayette. Indiana
Bozeman. MT
Each ERC is estabiishrA as a three-way partnership
An educational component that: involves both under-
involving academe, inclustni and NSF (in some cases with graduate and graduate students in the research culture
the participation of state, local, and/or other Federal
of the ERC. preparing them for engineering practice;
government agencies). Total annual funding for each produces course and curriculum innovations based on
Center ranges from S3.3 to $12.5 million. with NSF's the unique features of the ERC. which include life-long
learning: and includes a comn,itment to increasing the
contribution ranging from $1.4 to S2.9 million per year.
diversity of the engineering workforce.
While the ERCs differ from one another, each must
possess the following key features:
Programs of outreach, such as summer research
programs for undergraduates from other colleges and
A clear and coherent vision guiding the long-term.
universities, joint research projects with other universi-
fundamental engineering and scientific research
ties. programs to expose pre-college teachers and
important for U.S. economic competitiveness.
students to engineering, and contributions to the
continuing education of practicing engineers.
A strategically focused, systems-oriented, cross-
disciplinary research program spanning knowledge
the integratioi of research and
Many of these features
creation to experimentation in testbeds. delivering
education, the cross-disciplinary systems perspective, and
knowledge and tech. ological advances.
involving undergraduates and industry -- were explicitly
designed to change the culture of academic engineering
A crossdisciplinary team effort fostering partnerships
research and education. Such a change is now occurring
among faculty. students, and industry.
on a national scale.
Industrial collaboration facilitating a two-way flow of
ideas between university and industry in planning.
research. and education leading to the trans,er of
knowledge and technological advances to strengthen
the long-term competitiveness of U.S. industry.
Infrastructure
Optoelectronics/Microelectronics/
Resource Use and Recovery
Information Technology
Center for Advanced Technology for Advanced Combustion Engineering
Large Structural Systems
Research Center
Data Storage Systems Center
Brigham Young University and the
Lehigh University
Carnegie Mellon University
University of Utah
Bethlehem. PA
Pittsburgh, PA
Provo, UT and Salt Lake City, UT
Materials Processing for Manufacturing
Optoelectronic Computing Systems
Offshore Technology Research Center
Center
Engineering Research Center for
Texas A&M University and The
University of Colorado and Colorado
Particle Science and Technology
University of Texas at Austin
State University
University of Florida
College Station. TX and Austin. TX
Boulder. CO and Ft. Collins. CO
Gainesville. EL
Low-Cost Electronics Packaging
At the end of their life-cycle as NSF-
Center for Interfacial Engineering
Research Center
University of Minnesota
supported Engineering Research
Georgia Institute of Technology
Minneapolis. MN
Centers. most ERCs will become self-
Atlanta. GA
sustaining. Currently there is one self-
Center for Advanced Electronic
Center for Compound Semiconductor
Materials Processing
sustaining ERC:
Microelectronics
North Carolina State University and
University of Illinois at Urbana-
Center for Telecommunications
other North Carolina institutions
Champaign
Research
Raleigh. NC
Urbana, IL
Columbia University
Center for Plasma-Aided Manufacturing
New York. NY
University of Wisconsin-Madison and
(established in 1985 and self-sustaining
University of Minnesota
from 1996)
5.
Madison. WI and Minneapolis. MN
e
Engineering Education and Centers Division
Directorate for Engineering
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd., Rm. 585
Arlington, VA 22230
306-1380
(703)
Phone:
306-0326
(703)
Fax:
306-0090
(703)
TDD:
NSF 96-23a
er
.1-1,:Aneenng
California Institute of Technology
Endowing machines of the next century with human senses
The mission of the Center for Neuromorphic Systems
Engineering is to develop the technology infrastructure for
endowing machines with the senses of vision, hearing,
touch, and olfaction, and the ability to learn and adapt to
their environment. The Center seeks to raise artificial
neural network technology to a new level at which it can
become an "enabling technology" for industry, with an
impact comparable to that of the introduction of the
microprocessor. A quantum leap in technology is needed
for this research to manifest itself as innovative processes
and products in U.S. industry. The Center aims to
,
facilitate this leap by focusing on sensory processing in
which the natural parallelism of artificial neural networks.
and neuromorphic VLSI and optical circuits, can provide
0
An infrared photograph showing a barn owl flying
solutions to problems that are difficult for conventional
toward a mouse in total darkness. The rustling
8
computing to address. These problems include vision,
noises of the mouse are the cues for localization by
audition. tactition, and chemical sensing (otfaction), in
the owl, which detects differences In the timing and
addition to locomotion, robotic control, and autonomous
intensity of sound between the ears. The neural
circuits that compute Interaural time difference
systems. Coupling high-bandwidth arrays of sensors and
have been identified and simulated In a VLSI chip.
actuators with the processing power and teaming abilities
of distributed neural networks will facifitate vastly
communications in dense silicon sensory processing
improved human-machine interaction and
arrays. Learning and adaptation are key requirements
machine-environment interaction.
for robust sensory processing arrays due to the natural
parameter variability and noisiness of sensors. Silicon
Research
synapses, neurons, and techniques for non-volatile
The ERC pursues basic research in hardware and
analog storage also are being explored as fundamental
algorithms for sensory processing. The hardware effort
building blocks of silicon neural systems. Sensor fusion
is focused on the development of tools and techniques
to achieve combinations of sensory modalities will also
for analog and optical VLSI design.
be researched. For example, the fusion of audition and
i the development of
vision allows sophisticated localization of moving
The algorithm effort is focused
objects. Techniques for combining new sensor
learning and adaptive techniques for artificial neural
technologies with VLSI silicon neural network process-
networks. The Center aims to demonstrate the results
ing also will be researched. These include chemical
of this research by developing industry testbeds in two
sensing and olfaction, and micromachine tactile,
applications areas that both require rich sensory
pressure, and sonar sensors. The combination of these
environments: autonomous vehicles and human/
technologies will allow the Center to build multi-chip
machine interfaces. Typical example applications of
systems such as an "electronic nose." capable of
autonomous vehicles are microspacecraft, car engine
classifying odors, for applications such as cnvironmental
and braking control, vehicle navigation, sensory
monitoring, drug and explosive detection, and chemical
processing for robot manufacturing, and adaptive
and plant processing and monitoring. Research in
chemical plant control. Human/machine interface
combining micromachine technology with neural network
applications include face recognition. security systems.
processing can allow the development of Intelligent
virtual reality interfaces. teleconferencing interfaces.
sensory skins" for robot control. virtual reality, and
and intelligent data manipulation and search.
autonomous vehicle guidance.
At the hardware level, a key research focus is the
At the systems level the Center will focus on autonomous
development of tools for constructing densely intercon-
vehicle control and human-machine interfaces to
nected multi-chip vision and other sensory systems.
demonstrate the capabilities of neuromorphic processing.
Optical and event-driven interconnections will be
An autonomous vehicle car platform equipped with silicon
researched to enable sensory chips such as silicon
retinas for vision, together with tactile and sonar sensors.
retinas for vision, silicon cochleas for audition, and
will be developed to investigate real-time learning and
micromachine tactile sensors, to communicate with
adaptation in a rich sensory environment. A model
neural network processing arrays. Pulse-based
helicopter platform will allow investigation of learning
computation techniques that emulate biological r aural
techniques in which prior knowledge (of flight) needs to
firing, such as computation via action potentials, will be
be fused with real-time adaptation, to achieve safe
researched as a means for combining computation and
7
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ENHANCEMENT
IMAGE
autonomous flight. Human/machine interfaces
promise more effective human-machine-data
communication in the face of the "information
explosion." Sensory processing is again the
key feature that is needed but the information
processing required is quite different. In this
case we need to understand the behavior of a
human being rather than the entire environ-
ment surrounding the machine. Specifically,
we aim to develop laboratory demonstrations
that look at the head and upper part of the
body of the user to extract information such as
gaze direction (as a form of auto-mouse), face
localization, identity recognition, verbal
commands (lip reading), and hand gestures.
Voice processing, handwritten character
readers, fingerprint recognition, and intelligent
touch pads are other human/machine
on the left is a given blurred input, on the right is the en-
interfaces the Center is targeting for experi-
Color image enhancement
hanced result The degradation model for the blurred image is unknown. The enhance-
mental demonstrations.
ment scheme we employ uses non-linear filtering to augment the frequency spectrum of
a blurred input (creating new high-spatial frequencies). As a result of the enhancement,
Education
we create images with higher resolution than the sampling rate would allow. This
property is highly valuable in application domains which require limited bandwidth to
The ERC is a part of the Computation and
represent or transmit images, including the HDTV and videophone markets.
Neural Systems (CNS) doctoral program at
Caltech. The program's chief goal is to
ing facility is the focal point for Center activities.
Summer Undergraduate Research
examine the fundamental relationships
In addition to faculty research areas and
Fellowship (MURF) program, which provides
between the structure of neuronal and
teaching and student laboratories, there are two
support for talented undergraduates to spend
neuron-like circuits and the computations
a VLSI design lab and a vision
laboratories
a summer working in a research laboratory.
performed either by living neural elements or
specifically intended for
processing lab
The MURF program is aimed at improving
by synthetic physical devices. It fosters
industrial collaborative projects.
the representation of African Americans,
exchange of ideas and collaborations among
Hispanics, Native Americans, and Pacific
engineers, neuroscientists, and theoreticians.
Islanders in the biological, engineering, and
The Center also supports the Minority
chemical sciences in the United States.
mos.
Ad= Ms
Industrial Collaboration/Technology
REMQ/E-UNIING_IMAGERY.AtiALY.313
rt.
Transfer
411.1111111°
TUZURE-RECQGNITICalYSTEM
The Center promotes active partnerships with
U.S. industry on a number of managerial,
educational, and technical levels, all
/
/
consistent with the mission of the Center.
z..=
,
Industry participation occurs through three
1411111,4.1..g
support groups of increasing involvement:
,ros3
the Caltech Industrial Associates Program,
scud
NOunri. MIC.IVItilIV Lbw ItedoclIEN
which provides initial access to general ERC
Neural network micromachine drag
information; the ERC Affiliates Program for
reduction system.
companies with a general interest in neural
networks, who will participate in ERC
activities and have limited access to Center
Center Headquarters
facilities and seminars in order to propose
specific collaborative projects: and the ERC
Members Program for companies seeking
Center for Neuromorphic Systems Engineering
more substantive collaborations and Center
California Institute of Technology
involvement. These members provide
Mail Code 136-93
management input to the Center to help
Pasadena, CA 91125
define research thrusts, collaborate with
[phone]
Phone:
This example of remote-sensing imagery
faculty, and are provided space at the ERC
[phone]
Fax:
analysis demonstrates the use of a texture-
for visiting engineers and scientists.
[email protected]
e-mail:
recognition system in natural scene
analysis, in thls case via an airborne
Center Director: Dr. Rodney M. Goodman
Facilities
image. The texture-classes learned are
[phone]
Phone:
bush (output label green), ground (output
The Center for Neuromorphic Systems
label red), and a structured area such as a
[email protected]
e-mail:
Engineering is located at the California Institute
field or the man-made structures (output
of Technology. The Center occupies approxi-
label white). The system's learning
Assistant Director: Ms. Susan S. Lewis
ft. of space in the Gordon
mechanism provides for a generalization
mately 40,000
[phone]
Phone:
capability as well as for robustness to
Laboratory of Engineering.
and Betty Moo,
sslewis@ erc.caltech edu
e-mail:
noise in a complex real-world image.
This new $21 million, stiite-of-the-art engineer-
NSF 96-23b
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11
Canter tr Emerging
Carciovascuiar
Tecnnoiogies
Duke University
Interdisciplinary research
to improve health
care and technology
The vision of the Center for
Emerging Cardiovascular
Research Thrusts
Technologies is the development
of advanced
In its quest to achieve these
goals and fulfill its vision,
instrumentation systems and
techniques that wn
the Center is organized into
four research thrusts.
enable improved diagnosis,
therapy, and monitoring of
These four thrusts and their
corresponding deliverables
coronary artery disease and its
sequelae in the
are:
myocardium. The application of
these technologies will
Electrophysiological Diagnosis and
lead to a more complete
Antiarrhythmic
understanding of the
Therapy smart endocardial
mapper, controllable
interrelationship among the metabolic,
electrical, and
ablator, arrhythmia prediction
and prevention
mechanical events of the heart.
Noninvasivo Imaging of Anatomy
and Function
noninvasive myocardial function,
noninvasive
.
volumetric flow and anatomic
Research
imager, in vivo
coronary microscopy
Coronary artery disease and
its related effects are a
Chemical Sensors in Coronary
Artery Disease
major cause of death and
debilitation in the United
accurate, inexpensive chemical
C
sensors: smart,
States. The Center is welltositioned
to make
wireless implantable sensor
system: modeling and
significant contributions to the
detection and treatment
control of arrhythmia based
on ionic and metabolic
of disorders resulting from
this disease. We believe
state: biocompatible sensors for
that improved instrumentation
chronic applications
coupled with interdiscipli-
Advanced Technologies
100x100 5 MHz trans-
nary, focused research will advance
the understanding
thoracic ultrasound array,
of electrical, mechanical, and
automated quantitation of
chemical changes
volumetric geometries, 3D
visualization, integrated
associated with coronary heart
disease, leading to
electrode systems
better, more cost-effective
care. Research in electro-
physiological diagnosis and
antiarrhythmic therapy will
To demonstrate the impact
that this research can have
be focused toward improved
mapping and treatment of
on health care, consider this example
Part of the
aberrant electrical effects. Real-time
3D ultrasound
research focuses on implantable
and magnetic resonance
devices that prevent
microscopy will be improved
or halt ventricular fibrillation, the major
to allow noninvasive visualization
cause of sudden
and assessment of
cardiac death, from which 400,000
At
ricans suffer
coronary arteries and cardiac functions.
*Biosensors
each year. If only 10% of these
will be used to study chemical
poteritia victims could
changes 'resulting from
receive implants, many lives could
ischemia. Specific research
i>?. saved: and the
goals to achieve those
U.S. market wilt yield $500
million per year.
aims include the development of
systems to:
Provide advanced instrumentation
and sensors for
cardiovascular disease
Image coronary arteries
noninvasively
Measure coronary artery blood
flow noninvasively
Quantity beat-to-beat myocardial
function
noninvasively
Determine regional myocardial motion
and contractility
Determine plaque morphology
and evolution
Simulate realistic conduction
models of the
myocardium
Develop smart endocardial
mapping
Measure the heart's metabolic
and ionic state
Treat the affected myocardium
The Center is a major partnership
between universities,
industry, and government.
Duke's academic partners
are the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill,
North Carolina State University,
Case Western Reserve
University, and the University of
Alabama at Birmingham.
3-dimensional modeling and
visualization of
medical information is one of
the most peomising
fields of research conducted
at the Center. Hers, a
computer-generated rendering of the
epicardial
surface of a heart helps NSF/ERC
researchers to
understand and quantity the electrical
stimuistion
and conduction mechanisms
responsible for
normal and aberrant cardiac
function.
4
The ultimate users of Center-developed
technologies are not the medical device
_AIL
companies that commercialize these
products but practicing physicians who
utilize new biomedical devices to improve
patient treatment. To ensure that the Center
is developing technologies that doctors need
1
and that will actually benefit patients, the
Center has established a Clinical Partners
Program. Under this program, the Center
obtains feedback on technologies currently
in development through concept validation
research conducted in clinical settings jointly
with researchers at Duke University Medical
.
Center and, prospectively, other medical
centers in the region. Clinical Partners, like
Educational Partners, serve on the Center's
1.1
advisory board.
Facilities
The Center has outstanding laboratory
facilities and equipment across the Duke
Undergraduate and Predoctoral NSF/ERC Fellows are working with NSHERC Faculty
campus as well as at its affiliated institutions.
In the Visualization and Image Analysis Laboratory to develop advanced visualization
The Center's research facilities include thin
and modeling tools for biomedical applications.
and thick film microelectronics fabrication
laboratories, advanced visualization and
The Research Experiences for Undergradu-
Education
analysis systems, elensive capabilities for
ates (REU) Program is an outreach program
The heart of the Center's education and
ultrasound transducer research arid
aimed at students traditionally
research work force is its students. Central to
fabrication, unequalqd magnetic resonance
underrepresented in engineering research
the Center's interdisciplinary philosophy is the
tools for real-time in in 'd microscopy, and
laboratories. The Center has made a special
interdependent and mutually beneficial
extensive electrophysiological capabilities
commitment to working with persons with
relationship among research, education, and
for the study, mapping, and therapeutic
disabilities, especially the deaf and hearing
industrial interaction. This Center believes
treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.
impaired. Other outreach programs are
that the engineering student is the essential
directed towards high school and middle
element in this collaboration. An important
school students.
component of the Center's educational
program is its industry-supported Educational
Partners Program. This program provides
Industrial Collaboration/Technology
major educational oonortunities for NSF/ERC
Transfer
Predoctoral and Undergraduate Fellows and,
The Center accomplishes industrial collabora-
as part of their engineering training, enables
tion and techr logy transfer through the
them to interact with industrial investigators,
Educational Partners Program. It is through
the Partners program that industries have
The Emerging Cardiovascular Technologies
access to students for internships, attend
Seminar Series is an integral resource in the
workshops on specific areas of Center
'In. Seminars
Center's educational prr
research, serve on the Industrial Advisory
js across North
telecast weekly to unive,
Board, and receive current Center publications.
Carolina provide opportunities for faculty,
students, and guests from industry to
Center Headquarters
discuss ongoing research topics.
Center for Emerging Cardiovascular
Technologies
Box 90295
B237 Levine Science Research Center
Duke University
Durham, NC 27708-0295
[phone]
Phone:
[phone]
Fax:
Center Director: Dr. Olaf T. von Ramm
Dir., External Affairs: Mr. Richard A. Lucic
Dir., Outreach: Ms. Martha Shumate Absher
MicrofabrIcated, Kapton-based eiectrochernical sensors for cardiac applications. The
sensor "Christmas trees" to be inserted in the myocardium are shown as batch.
Admin. Dir.: Ms. Marianne Hassan Risley
fabricated, prior to separation.
NSF 96-23c
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