NFPA Updates Research Agenda
Now, three years later, NFPA is releasing an updated document that revisits the six broad areas of Research Challenge identified by the original Roadmap. The update is the product of an NFPA task force comprised of fluid power component manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, and end-user representatives. In preparing its recommendations, the task force discussed research and market progress since 2009; reviewed customer feedback from a forum hosted by NFPA at the 2011 Energy Efficient Hydraulics and Pneumatics Conference, and defined and consulted a new definition for pre-competitive research projects. In its final analysis, the task force agreed to several revisions to the six Challenges, and organized them into categories to reflect the primary strategy that should be pursued in order to address each one.
The Research Challenges are:
(1) Increasing the energy efficiency of fluid power components and systems;
(2) Improving and applying energy storage capabilities; and
(3) Reducing the size of fluid power components and systems.
Although the task force report suggests several market education and standardization initiatives to assist in addressing these challenges, it prioritizes pre-competitive research discovery applied to new technology development as providing the greatest potential benefit in these areas.
The Market Education Challenges are:
(1) Building “smart” components and systems;
(2) Improving the reliability of fluid power components and systems; and
(3) Reducing the environmental impact of fluid power components and systems.
To view the full report, visit the website below:
NFPA | |
URL: | www.nfpa.com |