Kenny Kimble (Fed)

Kenneth Kimble is a Mechanical Engineer working for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He received his Bachelors-of-science degree in 2014 from Frostburg State University with a major in Material engineering and a minor in Physics. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in computer science from Drexel college. He works on the Grasping, Manipulation, and Contact safety performance of robotic systems designing test methods that benchmark performance of collaborative robot systems.  His recent work has been in developing a low-cost test dummy artifact that can be used to test potentially dangerous interactions between a collaborative robot and a human.  He has developed three task boards for benchmarking robotic arm performance on industrial assembly-based tasks that are being adopted by researchers and manufactures world-wide.  He also works on the Machine learning and A.I. Project where he designs, models, and prototypes test methods geared towards the application and problem solving of A.I. robotic systems.

2019 NIST Gold medal award (Adam Jacoff, Kenneth Kimble, Kamel Saidi, Ann Marie Virts)
The group is recognized for breakthrough innovations in developing and disseminating more than 30 performance tests to quantitatively measure and compare ground robot capabilities for extremely hazardous missions. Robot manufacturers and researchers use these test methods to drive design innovations and highlight best-in-class capabilities. A key realization was that while the tests are incredibly valuable for making informed purchases of robotic technologies, they are also extremely useful for focusing training efforts and evaluating operator proficiency. Use of the test methods and associated international standards has led to significant improvements in response capabilities and in keeping emergency responders out of harm’s way when neutralizing hazardous situations.

2019 Ron Brown Excellence in innovation award (Adam Jacoff, Kenneth Kimble, Kamel Saidi, Ann Marie Virts)
The group is recognized for breakthrough innovations in developing and disseminating more than 30 performance tests to quantitatively measure and compare ground robot capabilities for extremely hazardous missions. Robot manufacturers and researchers use these test methods to drive design innovations and highlight best-in-class capabilities. A key realization was that while the tests are incredibly valuable for making informed purchases of robotic technologies, they are also extremely useful for focusing training efforts and evaluating operator proficiency. Use of the test methods and associated international standards has led to significant improvements in response capabilities and in keeping emergency responders out of harm’s way when neutralizing hazardous situations.

2018 NIST Morale Builder 
For outstanding morale building through an unwavering positive attitude and a natural respect for his fellow workers, which have significantly helped his colleagues in their goal of accomplishing EL’s mission.