62 The PCB Design Magazine • April 2017
American Standard Circuits' John Rupp
Certified as Quality Lead Auditor
for AS9100D
American Standard Circuits CEO Anaya Vardya has
announced that the company's Quality Systems
Manager, John Rupp, has earned his certification
as a quality lead auditor for AS9100D.
PCB Maker IMI Installs Micro-Vu Excel
Measuring System
IMI Inc. announced today that they have acquired
and installed a Micro-Vu Excel 661 UCL Measuring
System. This sophisticated machine will comple-
ment IMI's current Micro-Vu inspection system
and overall inspection, test and measurement ca-
pability.
NASA Taking First Steps Toward
High-speed Space 'Internet'
The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration
(LCRD) will help NASA understand the best ways
to operate laser communications systems. They
could enable much higher data rates for connec-
tions between spacecraft and Earth, such as sci-
entific data downlink and astronaut communica-
tions.
Electronics Industry Experiences
Technology's Turning Point at
IPC APEX EXPO 2017
From revolutionary advancements displayed on
the show floor to expert insights conveyed in tech-
nical conference sessions and professional devel-
opment courses, IPC APEX EXPO 2017 provided
the learning and connections that helped 4,169
attendees from 39 countries prepare for the future.
Next Generation of Nuclear Robots Will
Go Where None Have Gone Before
The cost of cleaning up the UK's existing nuclear
facilities has been estimated to be between £95
billion and £219 billion over the next 120 years
or so. The harsh conditions within these facilities
means that human access is highly restricted and
much of the work will need to be completed by
robots.
Gary Ferrari Earns Dieter Bergman
IPC Fellowship Award
In recognition of his ongoing leadership in devel-
oping and promoting IPC standards on a global
basis, IPC bestowed the Dieter Bergman IPC Fel-
lowship Award upon Gary Ferrari of FTG Circuits.
Imagineering CEO Khurrum Dhanji
Discusses New AS9100 Guidebook
I have had many conversations with Imagineer-
ing President and CFO Parvin Dhanji, and CEO
Khurrum Dhanji, and I always come away very
impressed with their dedication to their commu-
nity, associates and their customers. That's why
it was no surprise to me that they teamed with I-
Connect007 to publish this long overdue guide to
AS9100.
Opinion: Robots and AI Could Soon
Have Feelings, Hopes and Rights …
We Must Prepare for the Reckoning
Is artificial intelligence a benign and liberating in-
fluence on our lives—or should we fear an impend-
ing rise of the machines? And what rights should
robots share with humans? Christopher Markou, a
PhD candidate at the Faculty of Law, suggests an
urgent need to start considering the answers.
Beware the Killer Robots
Autonomous weapons have moved from science
fiction to become a clear and present danger. But
there is still time to stop them. In July 2015, thou-
sands of researchers working in artificial intelli-
gence (AI) and robotics united to issue an open let-
ter calling for a pre-emptive ban on such weapons.
IPC Volunteers Honored for Contributions
to Electronics Industry at IPC APEX EXPO
IPC—Association Connecting Electronics Indus-
tries presented Committee Leadership, Distin-
guished Committee Service and Special Recogni-
tion Awards at IPC APEX EXPO at the San Diego
Convention Center. The awards were presented to
individuals who made significant contributions to
IPC and the industry by lending their time and ex-
pertise through IPC committee service.
MilAero007
Highlights
