Chattanooga Engineers Club

Monday, September 7 - NO MEETING - In observance of Labor Day

NEXT MEETING____________________________

Monday, September 14 - Noon – “Engineering Challenges in Transitioning Technology from the Lab to Commercialization” - Keith Buckner

Adaptive Methods develops advanced sensor processing and computing architecture products for surveillance, security, and military combat systems. Recently, Y-12 National Security Complex licensed the Rapid Deployment Shelter System (RDSS) technology to Adaptive Methods. The RDSS is a unique, rigid-walled shelter system that, with the touch of a single button, unfolds itself from a 20’ steel ISO shipping container into a nearly 400 ft² rigid-walled shelter system in less than two minutes. The RDSS is a self-sufficient unit with an on-board generator and heating and air condition system. In the last year, Adaptive Methods has re-engineered the unit from its original military prototype to a more advanced commercialized version. Keith Buckner will address the engineering, manufacturing, and business challenges associated with transitioning technology from an idea through to volume production. Mr. Buckner is the Vice President of Manufacturing and Tennessee Operations Manager for Adaptive Methods, a Chattanooga based company.

On September 1, 2009, the RDSS technology was demonstrated to the commercial market in an open house held at the Adaptive Method’s manufacturing facility. U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp and officials from Adaptive Methods, Y-12 National Security Complex and the Enterprise Center were on hand for the unveiling of this leading edge technology that will shape the future of disaster relief and emergency preparedness.

We will have a joint meeting of the Chattanooga Engineer’s Club and the Chattanooga Technology Council (CTC). Matt Jannerbo, CTC President will introduce Mr. Buckner.

FUTURE MEETINGS________________________

The DOUBLETREE staff has asked our Club members to arrive when the doors open at 11:30 a.m. Speakers may arrive 15 minutes earlier. Those who eat lunch in the Inspiration Room should sit separately from those who do not. The staff counts those at the round tables with place settings and bills the Club for meals consumed. If you do not plan to purchase lunch, please sit in a chair on the perimeter of the room. The Club officers and the DOUBLETREE staff appreciate your cooperation.

Monday, September 21 - Noon – “A Candid Evaluation of Our Economy".

Speaker: John Garrett, Professor of Economics at UTC

Monday, September 28 - Noon – “Benefits of Urban Tree Planting”

Speaker: Preston Roberts, Take Root

Monday, October 5 - Noon – “Implementing a Global Spatial Data Infrastructure”

Speaker: Alan Stevens, PhD, Scientist Emeritus, Federal Geographic Data Committee

Monday, October 12 – NO MEETING – In observance of Columbus Day

PREVIOUS MEETING_______________________

Dr. Ron Bailey, Director of Advanced Vehicle Test Facility (AVTF), introduced the staff of the Center for Energy, Transportation, and Environment, including Mark Hairr, Program Director; Woodlyn Madden, Research Engineer; Justin McBath, Research Engineer; and Roger LeMond, Research Engineer. Dr. Bailey explained the reason TVA built the AVTF and why UTC leased the facility and track from TVA.

Many companies, including Carta, Uniservices, EDTA, University of Kansas (UK), MTSU, Emory, and the City of Sevierville, have partnered with the AVTF to provide research and testing of various types of vehicles and support equipment.

An inductive power transfer method was demonstrated as a wireless means of charging electric buses when the buses stop to load and unload passengers. The project is sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration. The travel route and distance of the electric powered vehicle is limited by the battery capacity. The Club viewed an animation of the electric bus traveling around the UK campus using a peak 20,000 hertz inductor coil to charge a lead-acid battery.

ITEMS OF INTEREST_______________________

The Chattanooga Engineer's Club meets at the DOUBLETREE HOTEL, CHATTANOOGA, Second Floor, Inspiration Room (407 Chestnut St., Chattanooga, TN 37402). Free parking is available in the gated parking lot on the south side of the Hotel. The gate will be open from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. There is additional free parking east of the Hotel on Chestnut Street in the paved parking pit.

Looking for details on a local society meeting? Links to local engineering societies are available to you at: http://www.chattanoogaengineersclub.org/engineer

The Chattanooga American Nuclear Society’s next meeting is on Thursday, September 3, 2009, 11:00 a.m. at the UTC SimCenter Auditorium (701 Martin Luther King Blvd, Chattanooga.) Topic: Nuclear Space Propulsion - Dr. Michael Houts. Dr. Houts will describe advances in nuclear power as it applies to space propulsion technologies. Dr. Houts is the Nuclear Research Manager at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. He has over 20 years of experience in the field of space nuclear power and propulsion. The public is welcome. For more information contact Shannon Ridinger by phone at 751-6507 or by e-mail at sjridinger@tva.gov.

Dr. June Scobee Rodgers recently accepted the 2009 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Foundation Award for Excellence for the Challenger Center for Space Science Education in Alexandria, Va. The Challenger Center Network was recognized for “two decades of inspiration and fostering interest in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.” Dr. Rodgers is the founding director and founding chairman for the center.

QUESTIONS and SUGGESTIONS______________

If you have any questions, items that would be of interest to the Chattanooga Engineers Club, or suggestions for future programs, please contact Joe Robbins by e-mail at jrobbins@robbinsbohr.com or by phone at 423-756-4430. You can find membership application forms, references to future programs, historical data, and other info at: http://www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org. To receive future meeting announcements by email, join the Chattanooga Technology Organization mailing list at: http://www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org/email.