Penn State Behrend
School of Engineering
5101 Jordan Road
Erie, PA  16563-1701

Office: REDC 242C
Phone: (814) 898-6153
Fax: (814) 898-6125
Email: ralph.ford@psu.edu

Ralph M. Ford
Research Scholarship

I conduct research in the areas of image processing, computer vision, and machine vision, as well as engineering design as it applies to the fields of computer, electrical, and software engineering. Principal or co-investigator on over $800k of external grant funding.

• Ford, R. (PI), R. Knacke, J. Brady, K. Miller, and R. Pflueger. Scholarship Opportunities for Increasing STEM Graduates at Penn State Behrend and Northwestern Pennsylvania, National Science Foundation, $500k, 2006-2011.
• Ford, R. Fulbright Scholar to the Czech Republic. Combined lecturing and teaching award to teach a graduate course, conduct seminars, supervise graduate students, conduct machine vision research, and aid the Faculty of Information Technology in upcoming curricular revisions, United States and Czech Republic Fulbright Boards, $20K, 2005.
• Fisher, K., R. Ford, D. Parente, R. Simoneau (PI), and R. Weissbach. Toward an Integrated Business and Engineering Learning Environment, GE Fund, $176K, 2002-2004.
• Ford, R. Development of Advanced Machine Vision Technology for Generalized Industrial Inspection, Pennsylvania Infrastructure Technology Alliance & Carnegie Mellon University, $22K, 2002.
• Ford, R.  Machine Vision and Optical Techniques for the Inspection of Plastic Bottles, AGR International, $50K, 1999-2001.
• Hemminger, T. (PI), R. Ford, and F. Ahmed. Integration of Digital Signal Processing into the Undergraduate Curriculum, National Science Foundation, $63K, 1998-2001.
• Ford, R., D. Loker, and R. Weissbach. Investigation of Digital Signal Processing Techniques for LVDT Signal Conditioning, LORD Corporation, $5K, 1999.
• Ford, R. An Internet-Based Interactive Teaching Tool, Penn State Faculty Technology Initiative, $5K plus in-kind services of one instructional designer and two programmers, 1997-1998.