Knopf will receive $50,000 for a 3D Shape Measurement system for developing digital media content.

Knopf's research interests lie in the general area of product design and manufacturing.  He has contributed to the development of intelligent systems for engineering systems for engineering design including studies on characterization of micro geometry flaws in product data exchange, efficient packing of 3D parts for layered manufacturing, and the adaptive reconstruction of complex free-form surfaces.

"As part of our ongoing commitment to knowledge transfer at Western, we set up the Western Innovation Fund last spring to help faculty move promising technologies closer towards the point of commercialization," says Ted Hewitt, Western's Acting Vice-President (Research).

"Once again in this competition, our award winners have demonstrated the very high quality of innovations emerging from labs and offices across campus, as well as our ability to contribute effectively to the economic development of our region and our country through applied research."

The deadline for the next round of Western Innovation Fund projects is February 1, 2005.  For more information, see the Research Services website at: www.uwo.ca/research/general/internal-funding.html