Southwest Research Institute 2006 Annual Report, Automation & Data Systems

The latest advanced computer-based technologies and networks provide the springboard for new applications Southwest Research Institute is creating for our government and industry clients (autodata.swri.org). We are developing hardware and software solutions to overcome problems in such diverse arenas as intelligent transportation, computer networks, medical, aerospace, communications, manufacturing and business systems.

Using expertise developed creating advanced traffic management systems for Texas and Florida, we are exploring the next phase of intelligent transportation systems in support of the Federal Highway Administration’s Vehicle Infrastructure Integration program (ivs.swri.org). VII seeks to improve highway safety and to increase mobility with vehicle-to-roadside and vehicle-to-vehicle communications, and SwRI is conducting internal research to investigate using vehicles as probes that feed data into the traffic management system while maintaining driver anonymity. Another internal research program is studying cooperative vehicle autonomy and autonomous vehicle performance in complex urban environments where traffic is difficult for piloted vehicles to negotiate. SwRI continues to improve systems installed and operational in Texas and Florida, providing advanced traveler information services as well as traffic management functions to mitigate the effects of roadway events and congestion.

Our software engineering organization, currently operating at Capability Maturity Model® Integration Level 3 and approaching Level 5, creates large-scale information technology systems in the medical arena, and we are transferring this expertise to petroleum and business applications as well (softwareengineering.swri.org). Currently, SwRI is completing development and testing an extensive medical scheduling application, one of the first reengineered medical information applications to be fielded for the Veterans Health Administration. Multisite testing and national rollout are scheduled for 2008/09. Also for the VHA, we have successfully demonstrated enterprise information system capabilities with a prototype pharmacy system and are now scaling up that capability for VHA-wide implementation. The new pharmacy system allows updates made at one site to propagate information automatically, within minutes, across the 128 VHA sites, a process that today can take months. The Institute is using internal funds to investigate employing natural language parsing to create a user-friendly computerized prescription entry approach. This novel technology could help prevent pharmacy errors (medicalsystems.swri.org).

We are transferring expertise developed working with appliances for the spine to other orthopedic and prosthetic devices, an area poised for growth as baby boomers age. We also provide the full range of services in biomedical engineering — we can develop devices, processes and materials, or we can test devices under development. We also offer assistance with the FDA approval process (bioengineering.swri.org).

Our network specialists focus on cyber security, modeling and simulation, and new applications for wireless sensor networks (commsystems.swri.org). Accomplishments include developing a ground-breaking, network-based data acquisition system for a flight test application and an Internet protocol traceback system currently undergoing field trials. Working in conjunction with SwRI geophysicists and Japanese researchers, we are using wireless sensor networks to monitor an active landslide with unprecedented resolution.

To compete with offshore sources, manufacturers are looking for lean and green technologies to improve production speed and quality, while reducing costs. In 2007, automation projects ranged from space science to telecommunications, packaging and food manufacturing, among others, and included applying green efficient manufacturing techniques to make processes more efficient and less wasteful. One example is an automated coating removal system we are developing for Hill Air Force Base that uses an environmentally friendly corn starch-based media to strip coatings from aircraft components. We also developed and deployed an Automated Weld Alignment Control System for a manufacturer to upgrade an existing manually controlled laser-welding process. SwRI’s system uses machine vision and a servo micro-positioner to precisely align the seam and weld positions, producing consistent high-quality welds (manufacturing.swri.org).

Copyright© 2007 by Southwest Research Institute. All rights reserved under U.S. Copyright Law and International Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to the Communications Department, Southwest Research Institute, P.O. Drawer 28510, San Antonio, Texas 78228-0510, phone (210) 522-3305, fax (210) 522-3547.