An NSF I/UCRC is a consortium of companies and universities working on industry-relevant medium-term research of interest to all parties. The proposed I/UCRC is focused on the emerging field of Safety, Security, and Rescue Research, which includes a variety of topics in homeland security and emergency preparedness and response. As a true cooperative venture, university researchers, member company executives, and invited public safety officials play a role in the selection of research projects the Center pursues. In fact, it is the Industrial Advisory Board that allocates funding for specific projects.

The research agenda of the Center covers many proactive and reactive technologies for homeland security and emergency response. These include:

• Components and systems of unmanned ground, air and undersea vehicles for security and search and rescue
• New sensors and sensor miniaturization for CBRNE detection, medical monitoring, navigation, and situational awareness
• Coordination algorithms for distributed teams of humans/robots/sensors
• Human/robot interaction and shared control of complex systems
• Robust, ad hoc, wireless networking protocols for sensor networks and autonomous agents
• Automated video surveillance and interpretation of human activities

Beyond the research mission, the Center is also charged with coordinating marketing studies and creating and developing new emerging markets through standardization and coordination with the federal government.

The many benefits of Center membership are outlined in the Executive Presentation, as well as details on the structure and objectives of the Center. The main benefit to membership is networking and collaboration with university researchers, industry leaders, and end-users under an umbrella of favorable overhead and intellectual property agreements.