[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 86 (Friday, May 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21197-21198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09046]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Call for Industrial Wireless Testbed Participation

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an 
agency of the United States Department of Commerce, announces an 
opportunity for industrial wireless communications equipment suppliers 
and academic institutions to incorporate their use cases, techniques, 
and equipment into a NIST Industrial Wireless Testbed to help advance 
measurement science research in industrial wireless communication, with 
special emphasis on manufacturing applications.

DATES: The deadline for responding to this opportunity is June 30, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: Applications to participate may be submitted in one of two 
ways.
     By sending an email to [email protected].
     By written request:
National Institute of Standards and Technology
    ATTN: Richard Candell, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8230, Gaithersburg, 
MD 20899-8615.
    Please direct media inquiries to NIST's Office of Public Affairs at 
301-975-2762.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Candell, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8230, Gaithersburg, MD 
20899, 301-975-4287, email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of the NIST Wireless Systems for 
Industrial Environments project, NIST has constructed a hardware-in-
the-loop Industrial Wireless Testbed that includes a radio frequency 
channel emulator used to recreate the factory radio environment, and 
simulated and real factory processes, controls, and equipment. The 
emulator which is an Intelligent Automation Inc. D-508 emulator 
supports up to eight (8) devices. Industrial wireless communication 
devices are connected to the emulator, and measurement methods to 
assess the impacts of various types of wireless systems on the 
performance of simulated factory operations will be developed and 
applied. Participants will include researchers from industry and 
academia interested in supporting the industrial

[[Page 21198]]

wireless measurement science activities at NIST.
    Research results will be used as input into best practices reports 
on the performance measurement and use of industrial wireless systems 
in manufacturing applications. Integration of equipment into the 
testbed will be conducted at the expense of the responder. Participants 
will be expected to loan their equipment, through a Cooperative 
Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with NIST, for a period of 
typically 6 months for use in the testbed. Participants will be 
expected to contribute in-kind engineering resources necessary to 
integrate and operate their equipment in the Testbed, including making 
any needed modifications to their equipment to achieve compatibility 
with Testbed interfaces, at no cost to NIST. Participants will have 
access to NIST test equipment associated with the Testbed, subject to 
availability. Industry participants are also encouraged to describe 
candidate use cases for possible inclusion in Testbed activities. More 
information on the NIST Wireless Systems for Industrial Environments 
may be found at https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/wireless-systems-industrial-environments.
    Interested participants should respond by sending an email to 
[email protected] or writing to the address listed in the ADDRESSES 
section. Inquiry emails should include a brief explanation of the 
purpose statement no more than 500 words explaining the purpose of 
collaboration and the benefit to NIST industrial wireless research 
objectives. The email may include a brief research plan no more than 
two (2) pages in length in PDF format. Product marketing materials are 
not acceptable as a research plan.
    The deadline for responding to this opportunity is June 30, 2017. 
NIST will accept up to five responders as collaborators in the proposed 
project, on a first come, first-served basis. Due to limited resources, 
the proposed research project will be limited to a maximum of five 
collaborators. Acceptance of participants will be aimed at achieving a 
diversity of industrial wireless equipment in the Testbed, and will 
depend on the level of commitment of the participant, the proposed 
equipment and engineering support resources, and the availability of 
NIST resources to support incorporation of equipment into the Testbed.

    Dated: May 1, 2017.
Kevin A. Kimball,
Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 2017-09046 Filed 5-4-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-13-P