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Show WtdNesdAy, April 27, 1985 Engineering center has brought 2 new companies to Utah Research professors at the University of Utah Center for Engineering Design forgo large salaries because they are committed to the nd that commitment has brought more than $15 million in contracts into the U.-a- 0jIs fckf Td , AUttTS Slj Tti Corputer j (CO f w: state. But in order to keep top professors at the U., funding to get professors' projects off the ground was necessary. That's where Utah Centers of Excellence program comes in. Formed in 1985, the program promotes the development of products and the founding of companies to manufacture tnem. In the case of the U. Center for Engineering Design, the goal of stimulating Utah's economy is being met and Steven Jacobsen, the center's director, and his staff hope success will mean further funding. Centers of Excellence funding and the work of U. researchers have made it possible for the Center for Engineering Design to form two new companies and win major contracts. Jacobsen was awarded $300,000 from the Centers of Excellence in 1986 to start two new companies, Animate Systems Inc. and Sarcos Research Corp. Animate Systems Inc. builds entertainment robots and Sarcos Research Corporation builds robotics. "The Centers of Excellence grant gave us the catalytic money to generate large, complex proposals, negotiate contracts and to interface with business," Jacobsen said. "We like projects we actually can finish, going from a basic research goup that develops things into a production-oriented group. What we were missing in the early 1980s was the latitude to get the resources to do this," he said. Jacobsen estimates that as a direct result of Centers of Excellence money the financial impact on Utah of the center's work will be more than $40 million and an additional 100 jobs in the next three years. "If the state wants to turn the crank to generate money for Utah's ecomony, it has to make an injection of money," Jacobsen said. tele-operat- ed The researchers have applied to the Centers of Excellence for a new two-yegrant to move into other areas of robotics, such as handling hazardous wastes. It also will help turn microsystems from research and development to commercial business as it did with entertainment robots, drug delivery systems and artificial limbs. The engineering center's success has bred problems too, Jacobsen said. Primarily, as developments are commercialized, many people who worked on them for years now work for the firms that have the production contracts. So the center has to raise more money to replace those employees. Most of the people connected with the Center for Engineering Design, however, want to stay in Utah for various reasons. "They're pitching in so they can stay here," Jacobsen said. "The work they do is technical. If they moved to another city they could get higher paying jobs, but they would have to drive an hour to work." "By getting funding, such as the Centers of Excellence money, we're building a dike so people have a reason to stay, so they can do their work here. In turn, it improves the economy," Jacobsen said. It will be another year or two before microsystems technology becomes a business. Microsystems include sensors so robotic hands can feel what they are touching, tiny motors forowering the robotics and optical systems. ar Chronicle photo by Steven A computer system installed at the University of Utah police station helps pinpoint high crime areas on campus. It also helps officers such as Sgt. Lynn Mitchell (above) keep track of statistics. Computer keeps tabs on crime Campus police use system to 'predict' offenses By Darren Tucker Chronicle campus editor Police work has changed a lot since the days when officers walked beats and carried billy clubs. The University of Utah police department has been using a computerized record system for the past 10 years. Sgt. Lynn Mitchell said the system has improved record keeping and helped pinpoint where crime happens on campus. 'The new system makes things a lot easier," he. said. "We can find information on almost any crime instantly." Mitchell said the old system involved a lot of paper work that has been done away with now. The way things used to be done, the name of the person making a complaint, the circumstances surrounding the crime, and the officer's report all had to be typed by secretaries and then filed alphabetically or by case number. Mitchell said he had to deal with a particular case about 10 years ago that involved a lot of paper work. It was that case that inspired the new system. "After about a week of going back through the old files to find what I needed, I decided there just had to be a better way," he said. Today, the record keeping is done on the U.'s comput- er system. The system the police use, which was designed largely by Mitchell, is part of the U.'s main frame. Mitchell said designing the new system wasn't exactly easy. He said there were a couple of major problems he had to workout. MARK MILLER SUBARU 3734 SOUTH STATE SALT LAKE CITY UT. -- "The first problem was with locations. Everyone writes down adresses differently," he said. "One officer may write 4th south and 13th east, while another one may write fourth So. and thirteenth Ea." Mitchell came up with a system of grids and numbers that allow officers using the computer to put in the exact location of the crime. Even the floor of the building where it happened can be entered in some cases. In Mitchell's computer, the Union is called G-- 4 B053. Another problem Mitchell encountered when setting up the system was what they should call all of the various offenses. It was the same problem as with the locations-n- o two officers call the same crime the same thing. Mitchell came up with a system of numbers from one to 2,423 for all of the crimes commonly committed on campus. Using the numbers, any crime can be looked up quickly and efficiently. Mitchell said the computer can be used for a lot of other purposes besides just record keeping. The computer is also used for statistics and for "predicting" crime. By entering the circumstances surrounding a certain it with other crimes, crime and then Mitchell can see where and when certain crimes are more likely to happen. The computer nas also been used in helping to solve crimes. Mitchell said an auto burglary ring was broken with the help of the computer. "We managed to get a description of the suspects and of the car they were using, and where they were most likely to hit next," he said. "The officers knew exactly what to look for." cross-referenci- ng EKIMYLAK (God of Hookie Love) 83115 268-373- AND 4 TNARG YRREPS (Godess of the Land of Milk and Honey) 1988 JUSTY DL Radials, stripes, FWD and more! Stk. 8440420. 60 mo. lease, $1845 resid., closed end, 1 st pymnt. $ 1 25 security deposit FREE Lube, Oil, Filter For Your Subaru with this ad Please call for Appointment Coupon Expires 51588 C. Wilson Invite ALL students who wish to influence and change University policies to apply for seats on the 21 STUDENT-FACULT- COMMITTEES. Y These committees decide University policy on issues from Liberal Education requirements, to hearing appeals and adjudcating contested parking citations. STUDENT-FACULT- Y COMMITTEE APPLICATIONS are available in ASUU offices, room 234 Union Building DEADLINE IS FRIDAY MAY 6TH, 12 PM |