MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT MAY 1997 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON

A newsletter for alumni, students, and friends of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Ferrier Wins NSF Career Award

Assistant Professor Nicola J. Ferrier has been named a recipient of the National Science Foundation CAREER award and grant. The grant is a Faculty Early Career Development award that provides flexible support for research and teaching for four years.

Ferrier will use her grant to support her research on sensor management in intelligent motion control systems in robots. The sensors will include vision, tactile, shaft encoders, and force torque-sensors. Completion of this research will enable robot designers to select sensors and coordinate them with the robot's movements.

Ferrier, who has been with the ME department since January 1996, will use a system model and control topology thatreflects properties of the hardware such as computation delays and communication limits. Her second research objective is to develop curriculum in intelligent machines, providing mechanical engineers with interdisciplinary skills and problem-solving skills through a course in robotics.

This new NSF award continues a growing tradition for the ME department. For several years now, Mechanical Engineering has been represented on the annual winners' list by one or two assistant professors.

MAY 1997 Contents