Event to Spotlight Distributed Large Volume Metrology for Dynamic Manufacturing
The growing demand for real-time, traceable measurement in automated manufacturing environments is driving renewed focus on Distributed Large Volume Metrology (DLVM) – a technology area poised to underpin the next generation of digital and robotic production systems.
In response, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), in collaboration with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), will host a dedicated one-day technical workshop aimed at accelerating industrial understanding and adoption of DLVM technologies.
Scheduled for 11 May 2026 at Factory 2050 in Sheffield, the event will bring together a cross-section of the UK’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem. Attendees will include system manufacturers, integrators, end users, and academic researchers working across areas such as:
- Large volume metrology
- Motion capture and iGPS systems
- Digital twins and virtual commissioning
- Robot guidance and automation
- Precision engineering
The workshop reflects a growing recognition that conventional static metrology approaches are no longer sufficient for dynamic, high-speed industrial processes. Instead, distributed, real-time measurement systems are emerging as critical enablers of closed-loop control and adaptive manufacturing.
Addressing the Challenge of Dynamic Measurement
A central theme of the workshop will be the performance characterisation of DLVM systems under dynamic conditions – a key challenge as these technologies move from laboratory environments into production settings.
NPL will present its proposed dynamic performance test method, designed to evaluate measurement accuracy and traceability in motion. This initiative represents an important step toward establishing robust standards and validation frameworks for DLVM deployment.
The lack of agreed methodologies for assessing dynamic metrology performance has been a persistent barrier to wider adoption. By addressing this gap, the workshop aims to support confidence in DLVM systems across industries such as aerospace, automotive, and large-scale assembly.
A highlight of the event will be a live dynamic measurement demonstration at Factory 2050, AMRC’s flagship reconfigurable digital factory.
This demonstration will showcase how DLVM technologies can:
- Enable real-time 6DoF tracking
- Support robot guidance in adaptive manufacturing cells
- Integrate with digital twins for process optimisation
- Deliver traceable measurement in motion
Such capabilities are increasingly critical as manufacturers transition toward fully digital, data-driven production environments, where measurement is no longer a discrete step but an embedded, continuous function.
Shaping the Future of Metrology Standards
Beyond technical presentations, the workshop will include facilitated discussions designed to capture industrial requirements and identify priorities for future research and standardisation. This collaborative approach aligns with broader UK initiatives to strengthen measurement infrastructure for smart manufacturing, ensuring that emerging technologies are supported by rigorous, traceable frameworks.
Driving Engagement Across the Metrology Community
With DLVM positioned at the intersection of metrology, automation, and digital manufacturing, the organisers are seeking broad engagement from across the industrial and research landscape.
Professionals working in automation, robotics, sensing technologies, and precision engineering are particularly encouraged to participate, as the outcomes of this workshop are expected to influence both technology development and standardisation pathways in the UK.
A Timely Step Toward Real-Time Metrology
As manufacturing systems become increasingly autonomous and interconnected, the ability to measure accurately in real time and in motion is no longer optional – it is foundational.
This joint initiative by NPL and AMRC represents a timely and important step toward establishing the methodologies, standards, and community alignment needed to unlock the full potential of Distributed Large Volume Metrology in the UK and beyond.
