Ann Virts (Fed)

Ann is the project leader of the Mobility Performance of Robotic Systems.  She leads the project by developing test methods, artifacts, and datasets that measure the performance and safety characteristics of mobile and wearable robots within manufacturing/industrial environments.  

Ann is also the Associate project leader for the Emergency Response Robots project in the Fire Risk Reduction in Communities program. She develops and implements robot test methods, interfaces with emergency responders and robot technology developers, and meets complex technical and logistical demands of demanding response robot field exercises. In addition to her emergency response robotics work.

Ann’s past contributions include leading data collection efforts and participating in field exercises for several DARPA and Army Research Laboratory projects.

 Ann has been recognized with numerous awards during her tenure at NIST including:

• 2023 – NIST Bronze Medal for For developing innovative metrics, test methods, artifacts, and datasets that measure the performance and safety characteristics of exoskeleton robots
• 2023 - EL Special Act award for outstanding performance in the organization and execution of critical tasks in FY 22 to support the NCST investigation into the collapse of the Champlain Towers South Condominium Building
• 2022 – EL Special Act Award for outstanding organization and direction to demobilize effectively and efficiently EL activities at the NIST NIKE site.
• 2021 – Finalist for Service to America Award (Sammies) for developing sophisticated testing standards to ensure ground, underwater and aerial robots have the capability to help emergency responders and the military handle disasters and other dangerous situations.
• 2021 – EL Morale Builder Award for caring and positive interactions that contribute to keeping morale levels high amongst their coworkers, and for putting the NIST Core Value of Inclusivity into practice.
• 2020 - Gears of Government Award - Developed the first ever comprehensive suite of emergency response robot test methods and data collection tools to evaluate and improve bomb-disposal robots and operators. These efforts led to the enhanced testing and use of advanced robot capabilities in challenging environments and the adoption of standard operator measures.
•  2019 – DOC Gold Medal for contributions and innovations in developing and disseminating more than 30 performance tests to quantitatively measure and compare ground robot capabilities for extremely hazardous missions.
•  2019 – Ron Brown Excellence in Innovation Award for unusually significant accomplishments that resulted in the implementation of innovative and creative solutions to Commerce Department problems and challenges.
•  2018 – NIST Bronze Medal for contributions to ASTM F45 performance standards that enable manufacturers to optimize their use of industrial unmanned vehicles.
•  2014 – Edward Bennett Rosa Award for outstanding contributions to the development of ASTM international standard test methods and prototype tests to advance emergency response robots.
•  2011 – DOC Silver Medal for developing techniques to measure and assess the performance of automated Middle Eastern speech translation systems leading to U.S. military use.
•  2011 – NIST Bronze Medal for advancement of measurement science for evaluating the performance of autonomous vehicles in realistic, complex and dynamic environments.
•  2008 – NIST Bronze Medal for development and implementation of the SCORE framework.
•  2007- NIST Colleagues Choice Award for dedicated contributions that supported NIST's mission, promoted effective external interactions and enhanced division vitality.
•  2006 -  Jacob Rabinow Applied Research Award for technical achievement in applying robotic crane research to improve the productivity and safety of large aircraft maintenance operations.

External (Not comprehensive)

• 2022 - Recognized by NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES)  exemplary support for 2022 Excelsior Challenge.
• 2019 - Recognized by Unit Commander’s Certificate for setup and implementation of professional development of Atlantic Region Explosives Training in New Brunswick Canada
• 2019 - Recognized by NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES)  exemplary support for 2019 Excelsior Challenge
• 2016 - Recognized by NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES)  exemplary support for 2016 Excelsior Challenge.
• 2016 - Recognized by the Los Alamos National laboratory for support of the Western Robot Rodeo
• 2016 - Recognized by the Los Alamos National laboratory for support of the Eastern Robot Rodeo
• 2014 - Recognized by the US State Department for significant contributions to the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Robotic Mission Profile.
• 2010 - Student Academic Achievement Award for academic excellence