Engineers get critical standards updates at MSC
Measurement Science Conference, February 27-March 3, Anaheim, CA, www.msc-conf.com.
Martin Rowe, Senior Technical Editor -- Test & Measurement World, 3/6/2006 9:02:00 AM
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Thursday's session opened with the keynote address by Philip Coyle, senior advisor to the president of the Center for Defense Information. Coyle spoke of the importance of measurements in the field of battle. He attributed the accuracy of laser and GPS-guided missiles to the quality of the measurements used in their design and manufacture. "Shooting down an enemy missile with another missile against the backdrop of space is like trying to score a hole-on-one when the hole is moving at 17,000 miles per hour," he said. "The defense missile needs to distinguish between the real missile and any decoys."
Coyle went on to describe how, in spite of the technology, US forces had had difficulty defending against improvised explosive devices, citing numbers such as, "78% of combat wounded have come from these devices." He argued that technology wasn't the problem, but that the military needs to change its operations.
Coyle then cited reasons why measurement and calibration is important in today's military. He pointed out that all equipment needs calibration and detailed calibration procedures, although he cited DoD for not sufficiently investing in new measurements systems. As a result, military bases that have closed did so partly because their measurement systems weren't up to date. Coyle also said that new weapons systems contain embedded measurement systems such as digitizers. "Instrumentation goes into systems for test, training, and fighting," he told the audience. He then touched on the need for measurement and calibration in homeland-security systems, citing the many sensors these systems use.
On the exhibition floor, several companies were demonstrating software for calibration management and automated instrument calibration. They included Anmar (www.asnmar.com), AssetSmart (www.asetsmart.com), Diversified Data Systems (www.dds-inc.com), Edison Mudcats (www. edisonmudcats.com), Fluke (www.fluke.com), Integrated Sciences Group (www.isgmax.com), Northrop Grumman (www.surecal.com), Norvada (www.norvadallc.com), On Time Support (www.ontimesupport.com), One RedX Software (www.1redx.com), and SanSueB Software (www.sansueb.com).
Agilent Technologies (www.tm.agilent.com) exhibited high-end RF spectrum analyzers and power meters for calibrating equipment and components. Fluke (www.fluke.com) demonstrated calibration standards and multifunction calibrators, and its Hart Scientific subsidiary (www.hartscientific.com) introduced a new temperature calibration well with a temperature range of –45°C to 700°C. The company also exhibited the model 5901 triple point of water cell with uncertainty of 0.0001°C. The triple point of water (0.01°C.) is the point where water exists in a solid, liquid, and gas state. It's used in the ITS-90 reference temperature scale.
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