About

Membership in CRIM is governed by the CRIM Bylaws approved by the CRIM-IUAB. Any company, worldwide, involved in 1) manufacturing robots and ancillary robotic equipment, 2) using robotic systems for product and process manufacturing, 3) using robotic systems and robotic technology in medicine, or 4) using intelligent systems for product manufacturing, is entitled to be a member of the CRIM. There are different categories of membership available. The fee levels (please see attachment) for the membership are set by the CRIM-IUAB and are reviewed periodically.

a. Members
The companies with full Membership are represented on the CRIM-IUAB and have voting rights. Therefore, they directly influence the nature of the core research undertaken by the CRIM and monitor its progress. Their representatives are entitled to attend meetings of the CRIM where results of the core research programs are reported. They receive semi-annual progress reports and an annual report from the CRIM. Their staff members are entitled to attend workshops, training seminars, and research symposia organized by the CRIM, at reduced fees, mutually agreed upon by the CRIM-IUAB, the CRIM, and the College of Engineering administration.

b. Affiliates
Small and medium size companies may join as Affiliates. Affiliates pay an annual fee based on their average annual sales (see attachment). Affiliates do not have representation on the CRIM-IUAB, but are invited to attend its meetings. Their representatives are entitled to attend meetings of the CRIM where results of the core research programs are reported. They receive semi-annual progress reports and an annual report from the CRIM. Their staff members are entitled to attend workshops, training seminars, and research symposia organized by the CRIM, at reduced fees, mutually agreed upon by the CRIM-IUAB, the CRIM and the College of Engineering administration.

c. Associates
Non-profit organizations engaged in activities relevant to the CRIM may join as Associates. Associates pay an annual fee as established by the CRIM-IUAB. Associates do not have representation on the CRIM-IUAB, but are invited to attend its meetings. Their representatives are entitled to attend meetings of the CRIM where results of the core research programs are reported. They receive semi-annual progress reports and an annual report from the CRIM. Their staff members are entitled to attend workshops, training seminars, and research symposia organized by the CRIM, at reduced fees, mutually agreed upon by the CRIM-IUAB, the CRIM and the College of Engineering administration. Associates are not entitled to receiving intellectual property.

An Industry/University Advisory Board (CRIM-IUAB) has been established, there remit is to implement the long term plan contained in this prospectus. As each Member Company (not Affiliate or Associate) joins the CRIM it will be represented on the CRIM-IUAB. The Board meets at least twice a year and gives advice on the nature of the core research programs carried out in the CRIM. Research proposals are developed by the faculty in consultation with Member companies based on their perceptions of the needs of the nonwoven industry. The CRIM-IUAB helps prioritize these proposals for the funding decision. Progress reports of the research are presented to the CRIM-IUAB members and their technical representatives twice a year. The Board discusses the importance and quality of the results and recommends the CRIM’s path forward.

The Board also monitors operational aspects of the CRIM. It plays an important role in the recruitment of new members. It sets policy with regard to membership criteria and operation of the CRIM by updating and modifying the Bylaws.

The organization of the CRIM is illustrated in Figure 1. The CRIM has developed core research, non-core research, and technology transfer activities. The Director coordinates the research activities of the CRIM, carried out by faculty, staff, and students of the participating universities. The technology transfer activities are developed and coordinated by two Associate Directors, supported by a Laboratory Research Specialist. The Director, who reports to the Dean of the College of Engineering, and coordinates the activities of the CRIM with the Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, supervises the overall operation of the CRIM. The Director is also responsible for:

• Recruiting new members and retaining existing ones.
• Long range planning of CRIM activities.
• Maintaining close relationships with the Industry/University Advisory Board of the CRIM.
• Seeking CRIM-IUAB’s assistance and counsel in matters related to membership and research needs.

In addition to the Associate Director for Technology Transfer, the CRIM Director is assisted by an Associate Director for Administration who handles membership recruitment/maintenance functions and other coordination and administrative functions. Additional, support staff needs are met by an Administrative Assistant. A University Policy Committee, consisting of senior staff of the University, the College of Engineering, and the CRIM Director, serves to facilitate smooth operation of the CRIM. A CRIM Analyst approved by the UNC system monitors the operation of the CRIM to ensure that UNC system guidelines are met. Therefore, the CRIM Analyst plays a critical advisory role.

Figure 1

The CRIM has adopted the following vision statement:

• “The Center for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (CRIM) at North Carolina State University will be recognized for the quality of its robotics and intelligent machines research in North Carolina, nationally, and internationally. (Dr. Edward Grant, CRIM Director, 2000)

The achievement of this aspiration has indeed been a formidable task, because today’s robotics and intelligent machines are highly complex, innovative, “engineered” systems, that require a diverse set of engineering and science expertise to be truly successful. The research is also highly competitive.

Today, meaningful performance benefits and consistent quality of manufactured products are based on innovations in robotic and intelligent machine systems. Products are designed to be manufactured and maintained by such systems. Major robotic system technological challenges identified by the CRIM are in the domains of: (1) remote operation, where cognitive robotics becomes a necessity, and (2) scalability, where the control of micro-scale systems is an issue. Innovative applications these systems will include space exploration, search and rescue, and medicine and rehabilitation. Research in these fields is gathering momentum and this will continue for the next 20 years. These technological challenges have necessitated a radical upgrade in the research and development capability of the CRIM, by first bringing together a critical mass of very diverse research and development talent. Establishing this new critical mass of talent is a priority. The CRIM has indeed pursued the leading-edge; it has not, does not, and will not, follow the trends of today. To begin with the CRIM will outreach more widely, and collaborate with other university researchers, both in North Carolina, the United States, Europe, and the Pacific Rim. These collaborations will bring the required expertise to the CRIM over the whole robotics and intelligent machines spectrum that will raise the research quality of the CRIM to even greater heights, and keep it at the leading-edge.

The multi-disciplinary nature of the CRIM research is matched and complemented by the work of our industrial partners, who look to integrating CRIM research into their manufacturing and maintenance expertise, or manufactured products, or new products. More, our industrial partners are intimately involved in the core research of the CRIM, and with its affiliated faculty. However, to truly live up to the expectation that the CRIM will continue to be the worldwide resource for robotics and intelligent machines technologies it has become, the facilities needed to be expanded to include state-of-the-art test-beds, i.e., engineered systems, that can “demonstrate the principles” of CRIM core research. This goal has been the focus of the CRIM for the last two years.

Recently, new CRIM test-beds have been unveiled in the technology areas of: (1) cognitive robotics, a new platform for evaluating evolutionary robotic algorithms, (2) medical robotics, with new platforms for cell-in vitro fertilization and phonomicrosurgery, and (3) intelligent sensing and control, more-based wireless sensor networks for distributed robot sensing and control. These three unique capabilities make the CRIM a one-of-a-kind robotic system facility in North America. Collaborators and industrial partners have access to all CRIM technology through the NC State Office of Technology Transfer, i.e., through outreach and licensing. These test-beds, in being coupled with a highly sophisticated set of analytical capabilities, make the CRIM “a worldwide resource for robotics, control, and sensing technologies.”

As the needs of funding agencies and industry change, the role of centers in academic institutions, like the CRIM, must undergo continual redefinition. The establishment of a facility, of the type described above, is part of the CRIM’s current redefinition. This redefinition would not be possible without the flexibility of the administrative structure of the University of North Carolina (UNC) system. That is, the CRIM will support robotics and intelligent machines research throughout the UNC system. To achieve this goal the UNC administration must show complete trust in the vision of the CRIM, and in this regard make it possible for the CRIM to grow beyond its current facilities in Engineering Building II on the NC State University Centennial Campus. In order for the CRIM to support other UNC system institutions it may need satellite facilities.