Internet measurement & self-calibration
Project Description
The background for this project is the work in recent years at several metrology institutes and companies on new calibration techniques using remote control and data transfer via the Internet as well as developments where instruments are supplied with internal references and measurement instrumentation in order to make them self-calibrating. It is the aim of this project to make an inventory of the applications and opinions on internet measurement and self-calibration and to provide a forum for discussion of these new calibration methods.
Two main activities are planned in this project. First of all a questionnaire will be sent out among the EUROMET partners. With this questionnaire, an overview of the present applications and opinions of internet measurement and self-calibration will be obtained. Secondly, a workshop will be organised on May 15, 2002, on the subjects of internet measurement and self-calibration. In the workshop, presentations will be given by different institutes on past and current activities in the field, as well as on the results of the questionnaire. Also, the workshop will provide a forum for discussions on future research and co-operation in this area.
This activity is part of the Soft_tools MetroNet thematic network that is funded under FP5, Contract No. G6RT-CT-2001-05061, from 1.1.2002.
Final Report 2003-02-12
This project aimed to make an inventory of the applications and opinions on internet measurement and self-calibration and furthermore aimed to provide a forum for discussion of these new calibration methods.
In April 2002 an inventory was made of the present applications and opinions of internet measurement and self-calibration via a questionnaire. A total of 14 institutes filled out the questionnaire that was sent out among the EUROMET partners.
Self-calibration is present in several areas of metrology (electrical, mechanical, temperature, flow) and mainly involving high-end instruments, although it is expected to become more wide-spread in the near future. Self-calibration is widely viewed as a useful tool for obtaining higher confidence in the functionality and calibration status of an instrument. It was generally agreed that the (internal) self-calibration process in a particular instrument needs to be evaluated before it can be used for realisation of traceability. There is a particular interest in evaluation guidelines.
As far as internet applications are concerned, several institutes are active in this field and some more are expecting to start activities in the coming years. There is a clear added value seen e.g. in training, calibration under conditions of use, data handling. The application areas really cover the whole field of metrology. Internet (enabled) metrology has given rise to significant new applications and services in some areas, but in general will not drastically affect the world of metrology.
As a second activity in this EUROMET project, a workshop was organised at NMi-VSL on May 15, 2002. In the workshop several institutes and companies gave presentations on their view and use of internet (enabled) measurements and on self-calibration and self-calibrating instruments. A total of 34 persons representing NMIs from throughout Europe as well as from industry and calibration laboratories attended the workshop. A CD is available with the data and presentations of the workshop.
Recently, a combined NMi – NPL activity has been started on the evaluation of the (self-)calibration of a LCR-meter that is widely used in industry for the measurement of electrical impedance.
It is noted that this activity is part of the Soft_tools MetroNet thematic network that is funded under FP5, Contract No. G6RT-CT-2001-05061, from 1.1.2002. The activities of this network are subject of EUROMET project 668.