CML: Overview

Overview

The Computer Mechanics Laboratory (CML) of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, was formed in January 1989 after several years of close collaborative research between the department's faculty members and the computer industry.

Professor David Bogy is the founder and Director of CML. CML funding of faculty participant research topics is decided by the Director with the advice of the Advisory Council. The Advisory Council has both university and industry members.

Goals

The goals of CML are the conduct research in mechanical aspects of computer technology in close cooperation with - and funded primarily by - the computer industry. The primary objectives are: the education of graduate students in this field, research in topics of direct relevance to the computer industry, and fast transfer of research results to the supporting companies.

Funding

Industrial member companies provide discretionary funds to support CML's administrative and technical staff, purchase equipment, and fund faculty-directed research. CML also encourages and assists faculty participants in securing overhead-bearing project contracts directly from industrial members.

Membership Fees

Membership requires an unrestricted annual grant to CML at the following levels:

Member		$50,000
Advisor Member		$75,000
Participant Member		$100,000

A company becomes a member by virtue of sending a check with a letter stating that the funds are an unrestricterd grant to support the research of CML and by signing the appropriate agreement.

Membership Benefits

The Member may send two representatives to CML's scheduled technical meeting and receive all CML Technical Reports.
The Advisor Member receives the benefits of the Member, but may send four representatives to the meetings, has a seat on the Advisory Council, may participate in one joint research project of interest to a CML faculty member, and may receive software developed by CML.
The Participant Member receives the benefits of the Advisor Member, but may send six representatives to the meetings, and in addition may place a Visiting Industrial Fellow in residence at CML.

The membership agreements are for a period of one year. The level of membership can be changed or terminated by either party on a yearly basis.

Publications

Technical reports are generated as soon as significant research results are obtained. They are published and distributed to all members. Two series of reports are published. The Blue Series consists of research technical reports, which are manuscripts of the type submitted to journals. They are distributed periodically during the year. The Gold Series consists of Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations issued as soon as they are filed. A list of the Gold Series reports is sent to members and the reports are available upon request.

Conferences

An Annual Sponsors' Meeting is held at CML on the last Monday and Tuesday of January. It includes presentations of research progress primarily by graduate students and faculty participants, as well as a meeting of the Advisory Council. Additionally, laboratory tours and research posters are highlighted.