Technical Tours

Monday, July 14th

National Robotics Engineering Center & Post Gazette CANCELLED

12:30-3:00                                                                                   PM $25.00

The National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) opened on July 29, 1996 as an operating unit within Carnegie Mellon' University's Robotics Institute (RI).

Based at an off-campus location in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood near the CMU campus, NREC (pronounced "en-rec") resides in a renovated, 100-year-old warehouse on a reclaimed industrial brownfields site that previously was home to several suppliers of equipment for the steel industry. NREC was the brainchild of Red Whitakker, director of the RI's Field Robotics Center (FRC). In 1994, he and other FRC scientists agreed that mobile robotics technology had matured sufficiently to enable commercial applications in markets such as agriculture, construction, mining and electric/gas utilities. With a strong focus on applied research, they developed projects in collaboration with NASA and large companies such as John Deere, Toro Corporation, Consol, Joy Mining, New Holland, and Ford; collectives such as the American Nursery and Landscape Association, and NY Gas; and smaller companies such as Ultrastrip Systems.

Examples of successful technology from two health care related projects transferred to their sponsors are: one reduces the bottleneck in drug discovery for central nervous system disorders, the other, provides a faster and more accurate way to calculate the pose of patients just prior to radiotherapy of cancer tumors.

Today, NREC thrives as home to more than 100 of the world's leading robotics experts conducting applied research and development on more than two dozen innovative projects, many of which have been licensed for commercialization and are being deployed successfully in real-world applications.

Additionally, in keeping with CMU's mission as an academic leader, NREC also operates fun, educational outreach programs for young people. One such program, the Robotics Academy involves students, grades 5 through 12, in a wide variety of projects - such as building small robots - which helps kids learn principles of math, science, engineering, physics, resource allocation, teamwork and creative problem solving.

Limited to the first 25 people who register.

Tuesday, July 15th

Super Computing and AP1000 Control Room tours at Westinghouse (Monroeville) and Westinghouse Materials of Excellence/Hotcell Tour & Seimens Presentation at Westinghouse (Churchill)

10:30 AM-3:30 PM                                                                             $25.00

As a leading supplier of new nuclear power plant generating capacity Westinghouse Electric Company is on the forefront of the renaissance of the nuclear power industry. Building on over 50 year experience of servicing and refueling existing power plants, Westinghouse' design for the flagship AP1000 plant is built on a solid technology foundation. At the Science and Technology Department's Churchill, Pennsylvania, site Westinghouse operates its own "Hot Cell" laboratories in which materials which have seen service in plants are examined and evaluated. The data and information developed in this laboratory supports and enhances the database that supports Westinghouse evaluations and assessments of operating power plants. The tour showcases this unique facility and demonstrates how evaluations of materials are conducted remotely within the safe operating environment of the laboratory. A snackbar is available on site for lunch, or you can bring a bag lunch. Lunch is not included in tour price.

The AP1000 Main Control Room/Simulator Development and Testing Facility is used to conduct rapid prototype tests of our control room and human systems interface design. The results are analyzed and used to refine the design. The main control room is a compact control room that utilizes primarily "soft" interfaces, such as monitor based plant displays, soft controls, advanced alarm system, and computerized procedures. As the design matures the test facility will evolve into a test bed platform to conduct a "human factors" validation test. This validation test will prove that the new control room ensemble (ie., the design, training of operators, and plant procedures) can be used by the operators to safely monitor and control the plant during normal, abnormal and emergency conditions.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell technology can provide high quality power and low environmental impact. It is clean, efficient cost-effective power generation that supplements grid power and complements central station power. Gain an understanding of how these fuel cells work and participate in a virtual tour of the R&D facility where Siemens engineers and technicians are developing processes to make reliable fuel cell power a reality.

Wednesday, July 16th

Homer Laughlin Pottery and Heritage - WTI, Inc CANCELLED

10:00 AM-3:30 PM                                                                             $25.00

Specializing in high -fired, lead-free glazes with an Alpha Alumina body. Homer Laughlin remains the largest domestic pottery employing over 1100 skilled workers in a 37 acre facility. As a leader in the china design and manufacturing market, Homer Laughlin has pursued the issues that matter most: lead-free dinnerware, durability, contemporary
design and timely delivery. A snackbar is available on site for lunch, or you can bring a bag lunch. Lunch is not included in tour price.

In 2005, Heritage became the company's sole stockholder. Working together, their teams provide effective solutions for the hazardous-waste and industrial - by products markets. The core service of WTI is ncineration of RCRA - hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. The materials accepted are stored, and treated range from bulk solids and bulk liquids, plus a wide variety of containers, including lab packs. HLC - They manufactured the radioactive fiesta ware dishes. Collecters go there on Saturday-they open up the warehouse for a sale.

Thursday, July 17th

PNC Firstside Center and Pittsburgh Glass Center CANCELLED

1:00-4:00 PM                                                                                      $25.00

Built on the site of an abandoned rail yard in downtown Pittsburgh, PNC Firstside Center is a magnificent fivestory structure that has been compared to office buildings of Frank Lloyd Wright. Firsthand look at what is considered by many to be "America's workplace of the future".
Pittsburgh Glass Center is one of the top glass facilities in the U.S.

World-renowned glass artists work. Watch as they do demonstrations of their art of blowing glass and enjoy the glass exhibits.