New members and Chairman have been appointed for period 1998-2001 (see Enclosed A)

1- PRELIMINARIES

From October 9 to 12 , 1997 the new chairman was invited by the previous chairman prof. Koetsier to Amsterdam for discussions on the future of IFToMM Commission for History of TMM. The previous chairman used the opportunity to organize on October 10 at the Free University of Amsterdam one day Symposium "The Role of Mathematics in the Formation of Mechanical Engineering as an Independent Discipline", in which the new chairman participated (see Enclosed n.1). On that occasion several ideas were discussed for future activities of the Commission.

Several persons were contacted for the new Commission.

2- DISCUSSION AND ACTIVITY

The members of the Commission have not yet met and a first meeting will be organized probably during the next ASME Technical Conferences in Atlanta, U.S.A., in September 1998.

Agenda n.1 has been comunicated and the members have discussed the subjects. A summary of the discussion is reported in Enclosed n.2 which can be considered a first basis for a future acivity.

3- ACTIVITY TO SOLICIT WORKS

Two letters (see Enclosed n.3) have been circulated with the aim to present the Commission and stimulate a documented activity in the field of History of TMM, particularly with papers at the next IFToMM World Congress. A positive response has been obtained and papers on History of TMM are expected to be submuitted so that one or two sessions can be organized at the IFToMM World Congress. Also papers for journals have been sollicited, mainly with the idea that technicians will work more in deep on technical background to develop an aware consciousness on History of TMM.

4- CONFERENCE HMM200

As a major initiative to reinvigorate the field of History of TMM an International Conference will be organized in the year 2000 at University of Cassino, Italy, (see Enclosed n.4). For this Conference the support of University of Cassino has been already obtained and a patronage is expected by IFToMM Executive Council before fixing the dates and circulating the announcement.

Cassino May 20th, 1998

prof. Marco Ceccarelli

Chairman of IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale

Università di Cassino, Via Di Biasio 43, 03043 Cassino (Fr), Italy

fax +39-776-310812 e-mail: ceccarelli@ing.unicas.it

prof. Marco Ceccarelli

Chairman of Commission for History of TMM

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale

Università di Cassino, Via Di Biasio 43, 03043 Cassino (Fr), Italy

fax +39-776-310812 e-mail: ceccarelli@ing.unicas.it

prof. Andrew D. Dimagoronas

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

Washington University, Campus Box 1185,

St Louis, Missouri 63130, U.S.A.

tel +1-314-9356091 fax +1-314-9354014

e-mail: add@mecf.wustl.edu

Prof. Teun Koetsier

Dept. of Mathematics and Computers Sciences

De Boelelaan, Vrije University of Amsterdam

Postbus 7161, 1081 Amsterdam, The Netherlands

tel +31-20-4447684; fax +31-20-6427705

e-mail: teun@cs.vu.nl

Prof. Iulian Popescu

Faculatatea de Mecanica

Calea Bucuresti 165

1100 Craiova, Romania

fax:+40-51-416630

e-mail: not available

Prof. Moshe Shoham

Robotic Laboratory

Technion Israel Institute of Technology

Technion City

Haifa 32000 Israel

fax 972-4324533

e-mail: shoham@tx.technion.ac.il

prof. Hong-Sen Yan

Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

National Cheng Kung University

Tainan 70101, Taiwan, Republic of China

tel +886-(6)2757575 fax +886(6)2084972

e-mail: hysan@mail.ncku.edu.tw

Cassino May 20th 1998

The Role of Mathematics in the Formation of Mechanical Engineering as an Independent Discipline

Symposium 10 October 1997

Free University of Amsterdam

Program

The Symposium is organized under the auspicies of the Dutch Research Association for the History and the Social Function of Mathematics (Landelijk Werk Contact voor de Geschiedenis en de Maatschappelijke Functie van de Wiskunde)

AGENDA N.1-1998 for PC-History of TMM

1) Duties and goals for the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

2) New members for the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

3) Meetings

4) Activity to solicit papers for IFToMM World Congress

5) Activity to solicit papers for IFToMM Journal "Mechanism and Machine Theory"

6) IFToMM archive at CISM, Udine, Italy

7) Project TMM21 of the IFToMM Executive Council

8) Organisation or patronage of Conferences

9) Proposal for Conference HMM2000

10) Others and communications

Cassino January 21th, 1998

SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS ON AGENDA N.1-1998 for PC-History

(updated at May 22th, 1998)

1) Duties and goals for the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

We should enlarge what is prescribed in the IFToMM Constitution to work similarly to other IFToMM Commissions. This means to include activities like those listed in the agenda. We may try to write what duties and goals we should have for the period 1998-2001. However we should meet and talk about that. Of course republishing of important works must be also of our interest.

2) New members for the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

We start with few people but we should think to add people who are interested and could help in our activityies, even if they do not work in the field.

3) Meetings

prof. Dimarogonas proposed to have first meeting of the Commission in Athens at the end of May within a Conference. He tried to have invitation to cover all the expenses and organize for that a special session for us on History of TMM. Unfortunatly he did not suceed, and however we appreciate the effort which suggests to promote such activity also not only in conjunction with our meetings. Another occasion could be at the ASME Technical Conference in September 1998 in Atlanta, U.S.A. However it is thought to program the meetings not for oral presentation of papers or research results (we may organise half/one day symposium in the same occasion but not included in our meeting) but to have substantial discussions on what to do as IFToMM Commission for History of TMM.

4) Activity to solicit papers for IFToMM World Congress

In october ‘97 a first letter has been circulated to sollicit papers on History of TMM maily for IFToMM World Congress. Other two letters have been written and circulated. Also the members of Commisson should submitt papers and attend the conference.

Prof. Ceccarelli expressed that "Personally I am not trying to be a historician but I am a technician with a historical background". And indeed this should be one of our goals as IFToMM Commision for History of TMM: attract historicians to this field is important but much more important to stimulate technicians from the IFToMM Community to consider and work on History of TMM because the History of TMM should be treated by technicians, mainly in the IFToMM Community, since the topic is quite technical.

5) Activity to solicit papers for IFToMM Journal "Mechanism and Machine Theory"

We should submitt papers and then ask people to submitt other papers.

See above for other considerations.

6) IFToMM archive at CISM, Udine, Italy

Prof. Ceccarelli have discussed with prof Bianchi and prof Angeles about the IFToMM archive. A the moment at CISM in Udine, Italy, IFToMM has a small archive mainly with documents from secretary and meetings of Executive Council. It would like to express as Commission for History of TMM the interest for an archive containing all the pubblications related with IFToMM and with the possibility to have access to them. This is why prof Bianchi (who is past president of IFToMM and CISM) is doubtfull about the feasibility of such an archive at CISM and also the capability of CISM to manage it. The following basic problems have been stressed: a) informatic means I mentioned in the previous letters: sometimes texts can be reproduced in film or file format, and even proceedings are produced as CD so that a PC and suitable software is needed to store and read them. However the problem is how to have a modern archive, mainly for the future and easy use by internet connections. Of course at the moment at CISM this cannot be available for IFToMM and this maybe will be why a financial suopport for an effective archive sould be needed; b) copy of documents: this can be solved only by an effective will of the IFToMMM Community at large in order to ensure that for all publications supported by IFToMM a copy will be given to the IFToMM archive.

Nevertheless, it is thought that a fruitfull and necessary discussion about the existence of an archive for IFToMM has been started and it will we forwarded to attention to the IFToMM Executive Council.

7) Project TMM21 of the IFToMM Executive Council

This is a fundamental project for the future of IFToMM and mainly in one item the Commission for History should be active.

prof. Angeles listed the items for a final report as follows:

a) state of art for knowledge in TMM at the end of this century;

b) state of art for teaching inTMM around the world;

c) advances in TMM in this century and comparison with advances in the past;

d) a view of future for TMM and IFToMM.

Although we may be involved for all the subjects, we should be more intersted to develop a report for item c). Nevertheless the discussion is still open and in a near future a report should be developed by our Commisson. It has been also said that the Conference HMM2000 will be better a documented state of art both for History of TMM and the future of TMM. However it depends from the papers that will be presented.

8) Organisation or patronage of Conferences

We should make a list of Conferences, Symposium and Meetings of interest in the field of History of TMM and in addition try to have for some of them the patronage of IFToMM under our Commission to stimulate participation from people of the IFToMM Community.

9) Proposal for Conference HMM2000

As a major initiative to rinvigorating the field of History of TMM an International Conference will be organized in the year 2000 at University of Cassino, Italy, (see Enclosed n.4). The intention is to have people from IFToMM Community (who are technicians) more than pure historicians (they have their own circuit and indeed what is asked to our commission is to work with IFToMM people). Therefore, one of primary goal is to have papers on the facts and techniques developments of this century, with also direct experiences.

Dear colleague:

this is to ask if you are interested to actively participate on IFToMM activities in the field of History of TMM (Theory of Machines and Mechanisms).

I have just been appointed by IFToMM Executive Council as Chairman of the Permanent Committee (PC) on History of TMM and I have been requested to nominate new members of the Committee for the years 1998 to 2001. Please, note that, according to the IFToMM By-Laws, we can have up to two representatives for each country or association who is an IFToMM Member.

Your name has been suggested to me because of your work and/or possible interest in History of TMM.

It is my intention to promote activities such as symposia, organized sessions in Conferences and meetings to further develop the knowledge on History of TMM and mainly the awareness for an historical background within our disciplines in TMM and in the IFToMM Community at large.

As a first act I would like to suggest you to submitt a paper on historical studies to 10th IFToMM World Congress to be held in Oulu, Finland, on June 20-24, 1999. For detailed information and updates, please consult the Congress Home Page http://me.oulu.fi/~iftomm/

Please let me know if you accept to be nominated member of PC on History of TMM and to participate actively in the work of the Committee. In the case, please send me a short curriculum vitae and a list of your publications, preferrably related with the History of TMM.

I shall appreciate any suggestions you may have on other colleagues who could be interested, also with tha aim to have a first mailing list for the future.

Looking forward to your reply, preferably by e-mail, I remain

Sincerely Yours

Cassino, October 15th, 1997

Marco Ceccarelli

Dear colleague:

In my capacity of Chairman of the IFToMM Commission for History of Mechanisms and Machines (TMM) it is my intention to promote activities such as symposia, organized sessions in Conferences and meetings to further develop the knowledge on History of TMM and mainly the awareness for an historical background within our disciplines in TMM and in the IFToMM Community at large.

As a first act I would like to suggest you to submitt a paper on historical studies to 10th IFToMM World Congress to be held in Oulu, Finland, on June 20-24, 1999. A 500 words abtract is requested to be submitted before July 21, 1998 to IFToMM Member of your nation .

For detailed information and updates, please consult the Congress Home Page http://me.oulu.fi/~iftomm/

In addition I inform you that we are going to organize an International Conference on History of Machines and Mechanisms (HMM2000) to be held in Cassino, Italy, in May 2000.

I shall appreciate any suggestions you may have on other colleagues who are or could be interested in the History of TMM, also with tha aim to have a first mailing list for the future.

Looking forward to your reply, preferably by e-mail, I remain

Sincerely Yours

Cassino, May 6th 1998

Marco Ceccarelli

prof. Marco Ceccarelli

Chairman of IFToMM Commission for History of TMM

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale

Università di Cassino, Via Di Biasio 43, 03043 Cassino (Fr), Italy

fax +39-776-310812 e-mail: ceccarelli@ing.unicas.it

INTRODUCTION

Since the foundation in 1985 the School of Engineering of University of Cassino has been growing continuously with capabilities in teaching and scientific activities and today it can be considered a mature academic institution which is able to work actively even abroad.

The industrial surroundings in Cassino show since always vitality, which is drawn only partially by the FIAT Auto production plant. In addition the Montecassino Abbey, which is since always a center of cultural radiation, is of great importance also in the field of History of Science and Technology. The co-existence of the historical, academic and industrial entities give the possibility for further activities which are useful for the reinforcement and development of cultural and technical capabilities of the Cassino environment. The organisation and celebration of HMM2000 Symposium in Cassino can be considered a further activity for international promotion of capability and competence which have been developed not only in the Academy.

SCIENTIFIC CONTENTS AND GOALS FOR HMM2000 SYMPOSIUM

The International Symposium on History of Machines and Mechanisms HMM2000 is intended mainly to the scientific community of IFToMM (International Federation of Theory of Machines and Mechanisms).

Enclosed you will find a draft for "Proposal and First Announcement" of HMM2000 to be circulated in the international community.

The initiative for the HMM2000 Symposium will be promoted within activities of IFToMM and particularly IFToMM Commission for History of TMM (Theory of Machines and Mechanisms), whose Chairman for the period 1998-2001 is prof. Marco Ceccarelli.

The goal for HMM2000 Symposium is to have a specific conference which facilitates meeting of experts and technicians who are interested on the History of TMM and present historical-technical papers containing results of investigation or experience. In fact the aim of HMM2000 Symposium is to stimulate mainly from IFToMM experts and technicians studies and papers on the History of TMM which have contents not only from historical viewpoint but also with scientific and technical details on the evolution of mechanical engineering at large.

Therefore, specific topics for HMM2000 Symposium have been individuated and papers on historical subjects will be solicited and not only in the following topics:

The Organising Committee, whose Chairman is prof. Marco Ceccarelli of University of Cassino, is composed by prof Teun Koetsier (Netherlands), prof Andrew Dimarogonas (U.S.A.) e prof Hen-Song Yan (Republic of China), who are members of the IFToMM Commission for History of TMM, and by prof. Pietro Corsi and prof. Michela Cigola of University of Cassino, who are people working in the field of History of Science.

The oral presentation of the papers that will be accepted after revision will be given in English and last in 20 minutes with 5 minutes more for discussion to facilitate opinions interchange and comments. The HMM2000 Symposium will be scheduled in one pr two parallel sessions depending of the number of submitted papers in the School of Engineering of Cassino.

EXPECTED ATTENDANCE

The number of attendees at HMM2000 Symposium can be expected about one hundred with fifty oral presentations by authors from all around the world and mainly from countries whose national associations are members of IFToMM. Moreover, since HMM2000 Symposium will be a first conference on History of TMM cosponsored by IFToMM we shall expect participation of IFToMM national delegates and members of Executive Council.

In addition grants will be available to help the participation of people from former eastern and far east countries by using funds that will be asked for this purpose.

APPROVALS AND INTERNATIONAL CIRCULATION

The assent to HMM2000 Symposium has been obtained by means of approval of personalities of academic and no academic institutions. Representatives of these approvals form the International Steering Committee, whose purpose is also to help in the promotion activity and paper revision for HMM2000 Symposium. The members of the International Steering Committee are the following:

J. Angeles (Canada)

E. Baker (Australia)

R. Bansevicius (Lithuania)

M. Ceccarelli (Italy)

I. Cuadrado (Spain)

A. Dimarogonas (U.S.A.)

K.Guo (People’s RepChina)

T. Koetsier (Netherlands)

Y. Hori (Japan)

V. Marchis (Italy)

A. Mezentsev (Russia)

A. Morecki (Poland)

S. Paipetis (Greece)

J.S. Rao (India)

B. Roth (U.S.A.)

M. Shoam (Israel)

K.Takeno (Japan)

I. Tempea (Romania)

H.S. Yan (Rep. China)

The circulation of the papers presented at HMM2000 Symposium will be ensured in the international circuit by means of the publication of the Proceedings which will contain the papers accepted after revision. The Proceedings of HMM2000 Symposium will be given to registered participants and will be further circulated by the Organising Committee.

However the co-sponsorship by IFToMM is expected to give a wide circulation of the initiative and the Proceedings in the IFToMM community at large.

COSPONSORS AND FUNDS

In order to have a large and qualified attendance at HMM2000 Symposium economic support is required and will be asked mainly to University of Cassino. Other institution, as IFToMM, Chamber of Commerce of Frosinone and County of Frosinone (where Cassino is located), will be contacted for cosponsorship.

PROGRAM OF HMM2000 SYMPOSIUM

The program for HMM2000 Symposium will be scheduled with oral presentations of accepted papers at the School of Engineering, social and cultural activities as a visit to Montecassino Abbey and King Place in Caserta (Reggia di Caserta), welcome party, conference dinner and a social dinner in agreement with the available funds of the Organising Committee and local Organisers at the School of Engineering of University of Cassino in Cassino. The HMM2000 Symposium will be held with ore or more parallel sessions which will group presentations in the same area of interest.

The whole program for HMM2000 Symposium will be run from the Thursday evening may 10 to Saturday noon may 13, 2000.

Cassino, March 30th 1998 Prof. Marco Ceccarelli (Chairman HMM2000)

May 11-13, 2000: Cassino, Italy

The aim of the Symposium is to establish an international forum for presenting and discussing historical developments in the field of Theory of Machines and Mechanisms.

The purpose of this Symposium is to bring together historians and TMM researchers to discuss and learn from past experiences in order to enhance our vision of developments in the next millenium.

The Symposium will be held at the School of Engineering of the University of Cassino in Cassino.

International Steering Committee