International Group Travel to IARP Workshops. August 2003 to September 2005

国际先进机器人计划（Advanced Robotics Project，IARP）是一个由14个国家和欧盟组成的国际组织，致力于监测和促进机器人相关技术和应用。美国帮助建立了该组织，并积极参与技术评估、讲习班和联合研究任务。参与者包括美国技术专家前往各个部门，并与同事互动，讨论与智能机器相关的研究和开发技术。这项赠款提供了一种机制，以确保选择参与者的过程和程序是公平的，有效的，组织上可行的。要采用的技能和方法由于国际退休人员协会会议通常是技术特定的，选择美国参与者不仅要反映个人的专业知识，而且要反映他或她与其他参与者沟通和互动的能力。选择过程将由来自IEEE，机器人和自动化协会的特设委员会执行。旅行者将获得费用报销，但只有在特殊情况下才会提供酬金。这一规则也适用于出席IARP，联合协调论坛（JCF），这是管理，规划和政策规划机构。成员国和观察员国的代表在东道国之一出席会议。主办国的机器人计划的详细说明是议程的重要组成部分。建议活动的智力价值由于NSF是美国在IARP的代表，因此有必要寻求最好的，最合适的研究人员为会议的智力输出做出贡献。这是一项困难和具有挑战性的任务，因为研讨会和JCF讨论的主题需要各种了解特定技术的个人参与。他们的智力贡献对活动的成功和成果推动技术的能力至关重要。在过去，贡献者做出了卓越的贡献，但现在需要帮助NSF以公正和知识渊博的方式选择新人。机器人和自动化协会，代表6000名成员，是一个合乎逻辑的选择，以执行这一选择，通过使用资深的，经验丰富的，知识渊博的决策者。更广泛的影响，从拟议的活动，IARP处理的技术领域包括医疗机器人，personalrobotics，海底机器人车辆，和其他有直接的社会影响。最近成立了新的工作组，以考虑安全和安保技术以及其他对社会需求至关重要的应用。美国的高质量参与对于加强这些工作组至关重要，这样，工作组的审议和结果将有助于促进成功所需的先进概念。这一贡献的影响不可低估。

The international Advanced Robotics Project (IARP) is an international organization,consisting of fourteen countries and the European Union, devoted to monitoring andpromoting robotics related technology and utilization. The United States helped toformulate this organization and has been an active member participating in technologyevaluations, workshops, and joint study missions. Participation involves US technicalexperts traveling to various functions, and interacting with their colleagues to discussongoing research and developing technology relating to intelligent machines. This grantprovides the mechanism to insure that the selection process and procedure for selectingparticipants is fair, efficient, organizationally viable.OBJECTIVES AND METHODS TO BE EMPLOYEDSince the IARP meetings are generally technology specific, the selection of USparticipants must not only reflect the person's expertise but also his or hers ability tocommunicate and interact with other participants. The selection process will beperformed by an ad hoc committee drawn from the IEEE, Robotics and AutomationSociety. The traveler will receive reimbursement for expense but an honorarium willonly be provided in exceptional circumstances. This rule also applies to attendance at theIARP, Joint Coordinating Forum (JCF) which is the management, planning, and policyplanning body. The representatives of member and observer countries attend this meetingin one of the host countries. A detailed description of the host country's robotics programis an essential part of the agenda.INTELLECTUAL MERIT OF THE PROPOSAL ACTIVITYSince NSF is the US representative to the IARP it is necessary to seek the best, andmost appropriate researchers to contribute to the intellectual output of the meetings. Thisis a difficult and challenging task because the subjects under discussion at the Workshopsand the JCF require participation by a variety of individuals who are knowledgeable ofthe specific technology. Their intellectual contribution is critical to the success of theevent and the ability of the outcome to advance the technology. In the past, contributorshave made excellent contributions, but a need now exists to help NSF to select newpeople in a fair minded and knowledgeable manner. The Robotics and AutomationSociety, representing 6000 members, is a logical choice to perform this selection by usingsenior, experienced, and knowledgeable decision makers.BROADER IMPACT RESULTING FROM PROPOSED ACTIVITYThe technical areas that the IARP deals with include medical robotics, personalrobotics, undersea robotic vehicles, and others having a direct societal impact. Recentlynew Working Groups have been formed to consider safety and security technology andother applications that are central to society needs. The quality of the United Statesparticipation is essential to enhancing these Working Groups so that their deliberationsand results will help to promote the advanced concepts needed for success. The impact ofthis contribution cannot be underestimated.