Thomas Marullo has been a research scientist at Lehigh University for the past 16 years. Tom is also a Lehigh alumni with a bachelor of science 2001 and masters of science 2004 in Computer Engineering. He develops applications along with configuring and operating the data acquisition, control, and real-time simulation equipment for the Nation Science Foundation NHERI program at the Lehigh University Real-Time Multi-Directional experimental facility located at the ATLSS Center.
Here Tom talks about his experience of partnering with Servotest to integrate the existing Servotest equipment with other equipment for control and acquisition in order to develop a fully operational real-time testing environment.
When I began my work at Lehigh University, my first task was to integrate the existing Servotest equipment that was procured for the former NSF NEES program with the other equipment for control and acquisition in order to develop a fully operational real-time testing environment.
Quickly, I learned that the support team at Servotest, many of which are still around today, were eager to help and get involved with our unique project. Servotest gave us the ability to dive deeper into the hardware and software to overcome the challenges we had to solve. Their equipment has also provided thousands of hours of operating time over the 16 years and remains very durable and reliable. Other equipment vendors do not provide such levels of support and ability to “open up” their intellectual property. With this confidence in Servotest and knowing that they are always a phone call or email away, it was an easy choice to continue to purchase equipment and support and to maintain our working relationship.
Since it was before my time at Lehigh University, I cannot speak to the initial relationship with Servotest; however, it was ultimately my decision to continue working with Servotest when we received the NSF NHERI grant in 2016. Servotest showed exemplary support over the 10-year NEES program and their equipment and software was reliable and proven. Given the longstanding relationship, there was no doubt that Servotest could meet the requirements of our facility and help us break through boundaries in the seismic structural testing world. The team is professional, courteous, and eager to get involved in our projects to see us succeed. Servotest provides a level of support that exceeds most other equipment and software providers that I have worked with over my tenure. They will go out of their way and make sure we are always working at the required operating level resulting in one of the best working relationships I have out of the numerous vendors we have relationships with.
I would hope that industry partners and researchers who see the numerous publications and results that Lehigh University has produced through using the Servotest equipment would recognize that Lehigh would not be a success had it not been for Servotest's equipment and support. We expected Servotest to deliver and they continue to till this day!
All image Credits: Lehigh University
