Portable Calibration Standards for Traceability Navy SBIR FY2005.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2005.2 Topic No.: N05-134 Topic Title: Portable Calibration Standards for Traceability Proposal No.: N052-134-0136 Firm: Intelligent Automation Corporation 13029 Danielson Street Suite 200 Poway, California 92064 Contact: Chuck Hahm Phone: (858) 679-4140 Web Site: www.iac-online.com Abstract: IAC proposes to design a portable platform that will implement NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) traceability standards for calibrating shipboard and industrial sensors. This platform will enable a single individual to perform automated closed loop calibration, thereby helping the Navy achieve its goal of reducing crew size requirements for the maintenance of large sensor networks. The use of remote desktop technology and remotely-controlled circuitry will allow a single maintainer to possess the controllability and observability required in order to perform sensor calibration procedures that presently require at least two maintainers. In addition, IAC will develop circuitry that meets the accuracy and stability levels required to maintain NIST traceable calibration standards. The protocols in the proposed concept platform will be based upon open standards and will strive towards compatibility with products from other vendors who may play critical technology roles in the overall solution that the Navy seeks. This circuitry and systems developed in this effort will support Navy documentation process for compliance to NIST traceability. Benefits: Technical and economic trends are relentlessly driving the need for automated closed loop calibration in virtually every industry that employs large sensor networks. Present methods of calibrating sensors often require two personnel, one at the sensor location and the other at a remotely located console. The work proposed in this submission will bring the Navy closer to the solution that it envisions relating to the maintenance and calibration of these sensor networks Existing product offerings currently used in Navy shipboard calibration only partially fulfill the many tasks involved in sensor calibration. This means that a maintainer needs to carry various test units to perform his work. From a work-process standpoint, the motivation to reduce the bulk and number of pieces of test equipment is clear. For the Navy, as well as other large commercial enterprises, there is also a strong drive to combine functionality into a single platform and thereby reduce the number of items inventoried by the organization. IAC offers a breadth of successful product development experience in rugged and intelligent equipment design for both military and commercial applications. The work proposed in the effort will leverage this expertise to promote cost-reduction efforts related to the maintenance of large sensor networks that are increasingly deployed in a number of industries including petroleum refineries, paper pulping and factory floors. Return