Control and Automation

Mission

The mission of the Control and Automation Group is to address the electro-optical and electro-mechanical instrumentation needs and requirements of the industrial and national defense communities.

Several variations of laser scattering and fluid monitoring technologies including the Autogrape in-line fuel monitor (model and installed aboard a Navy aircraft carrier), bench-top and suitcase variants, the AutoGlow water-in-fuel analyzer, and MiniGRASP oceanographic particle sizing instrument.

Core Competencies

Core competencies include environmentally hardened optical device design, rapid instrument prototyping, on-board processing, and hand-held device design and interfaces. Personnel skills include optical, mechanical, electrical, electronic and software engineering and data analysis for on-board algorithm development.

Current Research Thrusts Include:

• Military Fluid Monitoring

- Sponsor: NAVAIR/NAVSEA

- Objectives: Provide technology for quality control and assurance of fuels, hydraulics, and lubricants for Navy vessels and other military assets.


• Aircraft Carrier Support and Manning Reduction Technology

- Sponsor: NAVAIR/NAVSEA/ ONR

- Objectives: : Develop technologies for catapult maintenance, aircraft traffic control, and shipboard automation.


• " Applied Spectroscopy

- Sponsor: NAVAIR/ONR

- Objectives: Develop hardware and algorithms for application of NIR and MWIR spectroscopy in military and industrial settings.



Area Leadership

Dr. Michael White

The Control and Automation Group is led by Dr. Michael A. White. Dr. White has over a decade of experience developing optical systems and remote sensing hardware in academic, industrial, and military settings. Dr. White has led the development of Navy hardware from basic research to standard equipment aboard the CVN78 generation of aircraft carriers to industry acceptance at commercial airports worldwide. The success of Dr. White's Navy fuel monitoring invention has earned his ongoing Phase III program a permanent place among the Navy's "SBIR Success Stories".

Michael A. White Physical Sciences Inc. 20 New England Business Center Andover, MA 01810-1077 Telephone: (978) 689-0003 Fax: (978) 689-3232 mwhite@psicorp.com

 

		Marine Systems Enterprise PSI Newsletter 2003.1 In-House Optical Sensor Calibration Facilities Cobamo.com Control and Automation Group Online