27 Feb 2001
Ref: 026/2001
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), in partnership with BAE Systems, today launched a revolutionary new Internet calibration capability, enabling access to the highest attainable standard of measurements, at the touch of a button, from anywhere in the world. Offering immediate cost savings and enhanced technical and operational competitiveness, the benefits to the whole of UK industry are expected to be far reaching.
BAE Systems' continuous development of high performance materials for products such as the Eurofighter Typhoon requires the most accurate measurement techniques, and as such made the company the ideal candidate for developing NPL's new Internet capability.
Engineers at BAE Systems have spent the last six months demonstrating the viability of Internet calibrations through extensive testing between NPL in Middlesex and BAE Systems' Warton facility in Lancashire.
Stewart Wylie, Electromagnetic Specialist, said today: "Involvement in the project has led to BAE Systems making history as the first external organisation to gain direct access into NPL, through the successful demonstration of the prototype Internet system. Subsequent testing by BAE Systems has determined the shape of the production system now offered to the public."
Today's demonstration of NPL's first operational Internet calibration service, using its Primary Impedance Microwave Measurement Software (iPIMMS), saw the measurement of material used in the development of the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. The benefit of this new process is the instant calibration of the measurement equipment, eliminating the previously required down-time of the equipment for calibration, and the reduction of the previous calibration chain, from several links to only one - a direct line into NPL.
Professor Dave Gardner, Director of Engineering, BAE Systems, said: "The ability to calibrate measurement equipment at BAE Systems through the use of the Internet, directly against NPL's primary National Measurement Standards, will greatly enhance our research, development and design capabilities. Enabling our engineers to carry out measurements as accurately in the field as in the laboratory, will not only generate cost benefits and a competitive advantage for ourselves, but will have a positive knock-on effect for our customers."
Bob McGuiness, NPL Managing Director, said: "We have developed the technology and method in close collaboration with BAE Systems. This partnership is proving to be a strong basis for innovation, creativity and Knowledge Transfer."
