Robert Murray
Name: Robert Murray
Position: South West Regional Manager
1) What was your childhood like?
My childhood was filled with love and adventure. I spent summers exploring city streets and playing with my friends in the neighborhood. I was blessed to have a supportive family and a safe environment to just be a worry-free kid.
2) Who was a hero to you growing up? Why?
My dad was my hero growing up and continues to be to this day. My dad has been there for me at a moment’s notice. He has given me everything I need in life to succeed. He has been there for me when things were difficult. Everyone deserves to have a parent like my dad in their life.
3) What are your hobbies?
I love to hike, read, and spend time with my family. I am a huge fan of the Ravens, Capitols, Orioles, and Virginia Tech.
4) How did you end up in metrology? Did you go to school for it?
I graduated from Virginia Tech as a mechanical engineer in 2015 with very limited metrology knowledge. I started in metrology at BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair. The engineering department was starting to integrate Laser Trackers into production work for combat systems alignment.
5) How did you come to be at API?
I first heard of API when we bought a new Radian at BAE Systems in 2019. I met Chris Baker and we hit it off. After a couple of missed opportunities, I finally came onboard this year.
6) What are your roles and responsibilities with API?
I am responsible for the southwest region. I assist current and potential customers at all stages of their purchase. Using my practical metrology knowledge, I help them solve and integrate metrology solutions.
7) What sets API apart from other metrology companies in your mind?
API stands apart from other metrology companies by making their vast knowledge and expertise available to every customer. API is committed to seeing every customer succeed. Our engineering team and our production team are right here in the USA. Our support extends to local offices with technical support across the globe.
8) What API Product or Service are you most excited to tell people about?
Right now, I am the most excited about our SmartTrack Sensor. It opens a world of possibilities for robot calibration and for real-time robot positioning during use.
9) What about API’s future excites you?
I am excited to see the continued innovation coming out of APIHQ. The release of our Dynamic 9D LADAR system proves that there are still major technological advances to come in the world of metrology.
10) What does “Nothing Beyond Measure” mean to you?
Nothing Beyond Measure is more than just a catchy slogan. It embodies the belief that there is no challenge that we can’t meet here at API.
– Radar
Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging) emits microwave pulses and measures the time for echoes to return. Because radio waves have long wavelengths, radar devices can detect objects at great distances and through fog, rain or dust. They are widely used in aviation, weather monitoring and speed‑enforcement. Radar systems provide a long range but lower spatial resolution compared with LiDAR . This lower resolution arises from the larger wavelength and beam divergence; as a result radar cannot pinpoint features smaller than several centimetres.
(source:wevolver.com)
– LiDAR
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) uses pulsed laser light to measure distance. Because it operates at optical wavelengths, LiDAR can produce very high‑resolution 3D point clouds. It is the backbone of autonomous vehicles and aerial mapping. LiDAR systems generally have a shorter to medium range but offer high spatial resolution, enabling detailed 3D mapping
LiDAR’s ability to capture millions of points quickly makes it ideal for applications such as autonomous driving and surveying. For manufacturing metrology, LiDAR is useful for creating digital twins of large objects or structures. However, typical LiDAR accuracy (millimetre to sub‑millimetre) is not sufficient for tight‑tolerance inspections that require micron‑level precision. Therefore, LiDAR still falls short for high‑precision metrology in aerospace and automotive manufacturing.
– Laser Radar
Laser radar is often used to describe high‑precision laser time‑of‑flight systems. It uses a narrow, focused laser beam and measures not only the time of flight but also the angles of the incoming beam to compute precise coordinates. Laser radar systems can achieve micron‑level precision but typically operate over shorter ranges and at slower scanning speeds compared with LiDAR. Laser radar system steers a focused beam, reading the return signal directly from the object without a retroreflector, and is engineered to provide precise, industrial measurements with tolerances of thousandths or even tenths of thousandths of an inch. However, the speed of data collection is sacrificed for resolution—laser radar scans smaller areas more slowly to achieve high accuracy
(source:eastcoastmetrology.com)
– LADAR (Dynamic 9D LADAR by API)
LADAR (Laser Detection And Ranging) is sometimes used interchangeably with LiDAR, but API’s Dynamic 9D LADAR is a novel system that blends interferometry with laser scanning. LADAR is an interferometry‑based non‑contact measurement system that provides fast and accurate data acquisition. It overcomes several limitations of conventional measurement methods by delivering micron‑level resolution and eliminating issues such as limited accuracy, slow data acquisition speeds and sensitivity to surface reflectivity. LADAR technology uses fast data acquisition to deliver rapid, real‑time data collection, significantly reducing measurement and analysis time compared with traditional methods. It also functions effectively in noisy production environments and at various incident angles. The technology delivers rapid, real‑time data collection, making it suitable for in‑line production measurements where conventional laser radar is too slow.
To learn more about how LADAR can preform in line inspection, click here.
