NIST's Advanced Technology Program (ATP) provides competitive, cost-shared awards for industry to develop high-risk, enabling technologies with broad-based economic benefit. ATP seeks to help industry fill the gap between basic research and product development, and to invest in technology that would not be developed in a competitive time frame without government cost-sharing. Along with general competitions which are open to proposals from all technical areas, ATP is also funding a series of "focused programs" with specific business and technical goals.

The proposed Intelligent Control of Manufacturing (ICM) focused program targets the controls industry as a key factor in improving the competitiveness of U.S. industry. Its intent is to encourage and support the development and implementation of a new generation of intelligent, modular, and cost-effective real-time controls that are based on open architectures, have applicability across multiple industry sectors, and encompass a wide variety of ultimate user applications. (A copy of the ICM program plan can be obtained from our Web site at www.atp.nist.gov/www/icmp/icmp0923.htm.)

The scope of this program has been developed from a variety of industrial inputs including industry roadmaps, white papers submitted to ATP, and a number of projects from this technical area funded through ATP's general and focused program competitions. Based on this input, the scope of this proposed program has been limited to developing and integrating elements of control systems -- including sensors, actuators, measurement and control algorithms, software, and process models -- into open architecture, intelligent control systems with demonstrations of control of complex physical tasks or industrial processes. Specifically excluded from the scope are stand alone sensors, actuators, control algorithms, or process models that are not part of an integrated ICM system.

The purpose of this workshop is to provide detailed planning and recommendations which will contribute to the timely initiation of this program and to confirm the program's linkage to industry's needs. Representatives from companies or groups of companies, technical and trade associations, academic institutions, non-profit research institutions, and government laboratories who are measurement and control system builders, system developers, software and hardware component providers, as well as intelligent control system users are invited to critique the program plan. Please prepare comments or brief presentations (5 minutes, 3 or 4 slides) concerning the proposed plan.

Location

The workshop will be held at the Holiday Inn O'Hare International Hotel, 5440 North River Road, Rosemont, Illinois.

Registration

The registration fee of $95 per person includes workshop materials, coffee breaks, and a luncheon. In order for your name to appear on the preliminary participants' list, registration must be received by November 5, 1997. All requests for cancellation and refund must be submitted to Tammie Grice, in writing, prior to this date.

Accommodations

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn O'Hare, 847-671-6350, for workshop participants. The rate is $119.00, plus 12% tax. To make your reservation, please call the hotel directly, no later than November 5, 1997, and mention that you are attending the "NIST ATP Workshop."

Coffee Breaks and Lunch

Refreshments will be provided during coffee breaks. Lunch will also be provided on Thursday, November 20.

Transportation

To reach the hotel:

The hotel provides complimentary shuttle service from O'Hare International Airport. The shuttle departs from the Shuttle Bus Center Door 2 on the lower level every 15 minutes, between 6:00 a.m. and 12 midnight.

Registration Contact

Technical Contact

For technical information, please contact:

Business Contact

For business information, please contact:

Additional Information

For additional general information, or to add your name to the ATP mailing list, please contact the ATP:

Registration Form

Please complete registration form (WordPerfect 6 or ASCII) and return by November 5, 1997.

ATP/ICM Workshop November 20-21, 1997
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Fee: $95

Form of Payment

Please fax by November 5 to:

or, mail to: