“Newton”
leaves for
England.
Take a test
drive with
“ADAM”.
New life for
USARIEM’s
Uncle Wiggly.
Our latest
installations,
and more.
Measurement Technology NeWs
Newsletter published by Measurement Technology NW
Summer 2003
Measurement TTechnology
echnology NW (Seattle, Washington) has
completed production of a new 34-zone thermal manikin
with enhanced walking capabilities for the Human Thermal
Environments Lab at Loughborough University in England.
At 5’ 9”, size medium, “Newton” is constructed of thermally
conductive aluminum filled carbon-epoxy with embedded
heating and sensor wire elements in 34 microprocessor
controlled and monitored heating zones. Developed using
advanced CAD digital modeling and built in accordance
with ASTM and ISO standards, “Newton” meets ENV342,
ISO/DIS 15831, prEN13537, ASTM F1291, and ASTM
1720 for garment evaluation and thermal comfort testing
at institutes like Loughborough University.
“Newton” is fully jointed, providing lockable motion at the
ankles, elbows, knees, and hips to allow testing in virtually
any possible body position. He has also been outfitted with
an advanced walking stand to replicate the walking
motions required for ENV342 garment testing.
Considering the features and computing power built into
MTNW’s “Newton” model, the total package is amazingly
compact. The manikin can be moved, positioned, and a
wide variety of tests can be run using a single lab technician. Zone control circuits are located inside the manikin,
increasing zone sensitivity and reliability while reducing
wiring complexity and downtime. All manikin functions are
accessible thanks to Measurement Technology NW’s
automatic manikin control software program, ThermDAC.
At Loughborough University, “Newton” will be used to
extend knowledge and understanding of human responses
to indoor and outdoor thermal environments, and to
develop methods for using that knowledge in practical
applications to improve human performance, productivity,
health, and safety.
Standard “Newton” models are available in 20 and 34 zone
configurations, but this versatile manikin design can be built
to accommodate almost any zone quantity or geometry.
4211 - 24th Avenue West
Seattle, WA 98199 USA
Measurement Technology NW’s new
34-zone “Newton” thermal manikin
with ENV 342 walking capability for
Loughborough University, England.
Measurement Technology NW manufactures a wide range of precision instruments for
measuring and evaluating the thermal comfort of textiles, garments, and dynamic
thermal environments such as aircraft, truck, and automobile interiors. Our complete
line of thermal manikins and guarded hotplate systems are designed to support current
industry test standards for thermal insulation and moisture permeability.
Uncle Wiggly lives on!
USARIEM’s classic 18-zone walking thermal manikin (called
Uncle Wiggly by those who know him) was built in 1984, and
the copper-skinned fellow has been a durable workhorse
over the last 19 years. Unfortunately, ongoing maintenance
was becoming difficult due to component obsolescence and
non-portable computer hardware and software.
The manikin’s existing computer interface provided a
method of setting heater outputs and monitoring the test,
but would not generate a data file for detailed post-analysis.
During testing a printed report was produced, but there was
no electronic data archiving capability.
Sweating operation was provided by fitting an “artificial skin”
layer over the manikin, and spraying it with water before the
test began. This method provided a general simulation of
evaporative cooling, but results were difficult to repeat and
the manikin skin would dry out during the course of a test.
Measurement Technology NW
proposed an instrumentation
upgrade using the existing
manikin structure, copper shell,
heaters, and sensors. Work
would instead focus on a
complete replacement of the
thermal control system,
including signal conditioning, heater drivers, computer
software, and the addition of computer-controlled sweating
capabilities.
The end result of the retrofit would be a fully functioning
manikin with integrated sweat dispensing, faster stabilization
time, additional control modes, and user-friendly software
running on a contemporary PC-based platform for enhanced
data analysis capabilities.
The U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
(USARIEM) is a subordinate laboratory of the U.S. Army Medical
Research and Material Command. The Institute’s mission is to
conduct basic and applied research to determine how exposure to
extreme heat, severe cold, high terrestrial altitude, occupational
tasks, physical training, deployment operations, and nutritional
factors affect the health and performance of military personnel.
USARIEM agreed, and Uncle Wiggly is
undergoing a transformation at our
Seattle facilities. Control systems are
being upgraded to a distributed
network where each manikin zone has
its own plug-and-play microcontroller
to oversee temperature and fluid
control and measurement. These
devices are networked to a central
processor, which manages the data
exchange and feeds the user interface.
Measurement Technology NW’s ThermDAC software will do
the rest. For manikin operation, ThermDAC includes several
special features:
• Color coded manikin pictorial displays, selectable for any
manikin variable (temperature, heat flux, resistance, etc.)
• Automatic steady state detection
• User programmable work cycle simulation
• Instantaneous bar graph and time history line graph for any
user selectable manikin variable
• Real-time calculation of test statistics over any user
defined time interval
• Manikin control modes: temperature regulation, constant
heat flux, and comfort equation.
When completed this summer, USARIEM’s famous copper
manikin will retain all his classic charms while gaining new,
cutting-edge instrumentation good for another 20+ years of
thermal research.
Recent thermal installations
and other good news.
In addition to the 34-zone “Newton” thermal manikin
described in our feature story, there have been several other
recent installations worthy of note, including a 20-zone
“Newton” manikin for Aitex (Spain), a 10” Sweating Guarded
Hotplate for Underwriter’s Laboratory (USA), an 8” Sweating
Guarded Hotplate for Technotex (Italy), and a customized
“Newton” manikin built for a major American motorcycle
manufacturer.
CAD/CAM Investments
Measurement Technology NW has fully embraced the digital
world, and in our minds it’s the future of engineering design.
Our popular “Newton” manikin is a perfect example of the
digital process in action.
ThermDAC Software
As the thermal testing field matures and the number of
Measurement Technology NW installations continues to
grow, our exclusive ThermDAC software has kept pace providing increased sophistication and automation for the
complex measurements required under current standards.
Measurement Technology NW will present a
technical paper at 5I3M (the 5th International
Meeting on Manikins and Modeling) set for
September 29-30, 2003 in Strasbourg, France.
To meet with an MTNW representative while at
the conference, please call us or send an email to
thermal@mtnw-usa.com. We’ll take care of the details.
The latest version of ThermDAC features:
• Full support for MTNW’s internal control systems. Robust
communication and advanced diagnostic features identify
potential problems and help minimize down time.
• Built-in calculations for equivalent temperature (Teq)
• User reports allow real-time group averaging of manikin
zones and the generation of steady-state reports for
user-selected time intervals.
• Integrated comfort equation mode with heater power
output is controlled proportional to manikin skin
temperature. User constants are adjustable by zone.
• Improved graph display with mouse-selectable
zooming windows to better identify and track
performance at high levels of detail.
• User reports allow real-time group averaging of manikin
zones and the generation of steady-state reports for
user-selected time intervals.
First, Rhino CAD files were created using several
anthropological databases in an effort to produce
a true 50th percentile Western male body form.
This CAD model was then virtually assembled and
thoroughly tested long before a single physical part was
produced. When the computer model was perfected, the
electronic files were sent to a supplier partner where the
digital information became, through computer-controlled
machining, incredibly precise 3-D molds. Parts pulled off
these molds are identical to the computer model! Digital
design and machining are two major reasons why “Newton”
can be such a great value in his standard configurations, and
yet be so easily customized too.
NEW! www.mtnw-usa.com
Measurement Technology NW has an all-new website. Still
found at www.mtnw-usa.com, the new site contains much
more information on MTNW products - including updated
photos, case studies, manikin history, and a comprehensive
FAQ section. Log on today and check it out!
Measurement Technology NW has established relationships with top thermal instrumentation companies around the world.
These representatives help us provide ongoing consultation, project coordination, installation assistance and service support.
In South Korea: Technox, Inc., (Mr. Her, Young-Chul), E-mail: tni@technox.co.kr
In Taiwan: Tien Shiang Scientific Instruments Company LTD, (Mr. C. S. Yao), E-mail: tinshing@ms16.hinet.net
In Turkey: Kontrol LTD, (Mr. Serhan Tozar), E-mail: kontroltest@ttnet.net.tr
All systems are <GO> for MTNW’s
state-of-the-art thermal manikin
AD
AM
project, “AD
ADAM
AM”.
“ADAM” (ADvanced Automotive Manikin) is an extremely
sophisticated 126-zone, sweating, breathing, wireless
thermal manikin that’s rapidly nearing completion at
Measurement Technology NW’s Seattle facilities.
“ADAM” is considered the world’s most advanced thermal
manikin yet created, mimicking human thermoregulatory
responses to new levels of accuracy. Once completed,
“ADAM” will be shipped to the Department of Energy’s
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) where he will
become an important part of DOE’s/NREL’s mission
to develop more efficient automobile air conditioning
systems - systems that maximize occupant comfort while
minimizing fuel consumption.
This all-new manikin design features MTNW’s remarkable
porous metal sweating skin and completely self-contained
operation via internal batteries, fluid reservoir, and RF data
communications.
“ADAM” is the most visible part of a three-pronged approach
to automobile climate testing by the National Renewable
Energy Laboratory. The manikin will be linked to physiological
response and psychological comfort computer models, and
together will measure, simulate, and predict the comfort
level of a car’s human occupants.
In the future, data generated from NREL’s thermal comfort
research will help drive the development of effective climate
control systems that reduce fuel use - making the next car
you buy more comfortable and more efficient too.
Choice ADAM trivia:
- 36 lbs of batteries are mounted inside ADAM’s torso and legs.
He can run heating, sweating, and breathing systems for about
3 hours at moderate metabolic rates.
- Each thermal zone on ADAM automatically compensates for
internal heat transfer from heat-generating components within
his core. He is essentially a manikin within a manikin!
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is the United States leading center for renewable
energy and energy efficiency research. Located in Golden, Colorado, NREL was established by the
Solar Energy Research Development and Demonstration Act of 1974.
Originally called the Solar Energy Research Institute, NREL began operating in July 1977 and was
designated a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in September 1991. NREL’s
mission is to develop renewable energy and improved energy efficiency technologies and practices,
advance related science and engineering, and transfer knowledge and innovations to address the
nation’s energy and environmental goals.
Measurement Technology NW
4211 - 24th Avenue W, Seattle, WA 98199 Tel: 206 634 1308 Fax: 206 634 1309
thermal@mtnw-usa.com, www.mtnw-usa.com