Johns Hopkins Engineering Programs ALL - Engineering
PhD program in Optical Networking.
EE
The Catholic University of America
Master of Science (MSc)
Computer Science
Johns Hopkins University
MS
Physics
Computer Science
Johns Hopkins University
Carnegie Mellon University
Georges Creek Railway
Bartron Medical Imaging
Independent Engineering Consultant
Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Lab
Laurel
MD
Published reference works on On-Orbit Robot Repair and Servicing of Spacecraft
Manufacturing in Space
Space Tourism
and the Deep Space Gateway. Working on a reference for Cloud Robotics. \nFocusing on Cubesat education and engagement globally. Developing STEM train-the trainer Courseware and references from K to Post-Grad
in multiple areas. Interested in Cloud Robotics.\n\nOrganized a summer session for 20 and later
40 students in the Brazilian Scientific Mobility Program to learn NASA System Engineering methods and spacecraft operations in 2015 and 2016..\n\nTaught classes in Cubesat Engineering and Cubesat Operations at Capitol Technology University. Continuing International Colloborative Projects. \n\nWorked closely with student teams developing new control center technology
and troubleshooting a NASA exploration robot. Lunar rover Cubesat run through the paces at NIST's robot playground. \n\nPresented a paper at the Flight Software-17 conference at JHU/APL in Fall
2017. Had a poster presentation at Goddard's Interplanetary Cubesat Conference-17. Pursuing a\nCubesat Swarm project with a Cloud architecture
for asteroid and Mars surface operations. \nSurvived Iceland!\n\nOne of the students and I have published a poster presentation on cubesats
before the term started. Working with excellent high-end students Cubesat Swarms for Gas Giant ring system exploration
and Clustering of onboard computer resources among units. Developing the Control Center as a service / Control center in the cloud paradigm. \n
Principal
Independent Engineering Consultant
Greenbelt
MD
Radiation effects on flight FPGA and ASIC architectures.\nIntegration & Test of Spacecraft systems.\nTask lead on multiple GSFC Tasks with subcontracts.\nMentor to the Summer Robotics Engineering Boot Camp (2010-11)
Senior Systems Engineer/ESES
MEI Technologies
Inc
Laurel
MD
Developed and teaches an EE nline undergraduate Embedded Systems course. Works with the Aerospace Engineering Department on Cubesat development and Control Center
as well as the CORE Flight Executive Project
from NASA/GSFC. Helping to negotiate a Space Act Agreement between NASA and Capitol. Working to get more international student involvement .
Adjunct Faculty
Electrical Engineering
Capital Technology University
APL
Developed and teaches graduate level course in Embedded Computer Systems based on the ARM architecture. Developed online version of the course
including labs. Working to increase foreign student involvement. Working with Aerospace Engineering Department on Cubesat course.
Faculty
Whiting School of Engineering
Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Lab
Developed and taught courses in the Graduate Computer Science Dept. Evaluates technology. x86 architecture and assembly language
RISC architecture
Virtualization
Digital Communications and Networking. Development of 64-node Parallel processor. Support of Robotics projects.
Loyola University in Maryland
Georges Creek Railway
Luke
MD
Maryland Class-III shortline railroad
providing plant switching and logistics services to paper industry
and coal haul for export. Principal
and leads programs in insertion of technology and networking the locomotives for better predictive maintenance and monitoring. \nInterested in biodiesel production
intermodal operations
electrical industry optimization. IT infrastructure
including locomotive onboard systems and rail communication infrastructure.
Director of Technology
Pittsburgh
PA
assisted University faculty
staff
and students on running mainframe programs on Univac
Burroughs
and IBM Hardware. As part of the System Verification Group
evaluated new hardware/software releases.
User Consultant
Carnegie Mellon University
Maryland
Connecticut
Consultant for hosting of NASA Imaging Software on a cluster architecture for medical image enhancement. Project has gone through FDA approval to production.
Consultant
Bartron Medical Imaging
Python
Fortran
-G and -H
Algol-68
Community Outreach Award
for support of the NASA Summer Robotics Engineering Boot Camp
MEI
Shuttle Program Manager's Commendation
for contributions to the Shuttle Program.
NASA
Group Achievement Award
for Aquarius Radiometer work in 2006.
NASA
BSEE
Applied Computer Science
Athena System Development Group
\nComputer Science Dept. Engineering Lab
\nComputation Center
Carnegie Mellon University
Incredible energy level. Mentor to a group of 40 International students in hardware and software engineering. Provided technical guidance and system engineering discipline.\nHelped with the Greenland Rover
a remote vehicle surveying the ice shelf.
NASA-GSFC
participant
Mount Savage Historical Society
Simulations
System Architecture
Engineering Management
System Design
Systems Engineering
Embedded Software
Virtualization
FPGA
VHDL
Matlab
Spacecraft
Configuration Management
Testing
Robotics
Unix
Software Engineering
Integration
Technology Education
Embedded Systems
Linux
Mobile Cloud Robotics
This book is about the topic of Mobile Cloud Robotics. This represents the fusion of multiple technologies
such a Internet of Things
mobile robotic platforms
Multicore Graphics processing units
and the Cloud platform. The Cloud concept involves virtualizing the compute element
as we'll explain in detail later. Mostly
we will focus on mobile robots
as opposed to robotic assembly
which we might find on an assembly line for cars or refrigerators. At he heart of the problem is a computation-communication trade-off. Will look at the integration of these topics
with a roadmap and a defined architecture. \nCloud Robotics is an emerging field
enabled by the Internet of Things
the development and deployment of cloud services
and more capable small embedded processors with easier to use software
and better communication links. There has always been restrictions on the amount of processing
dta storage
and communications we can put on a mobile platform. Early Mars rovers used more power computing their move
than in actually doing them. The mobile platforms are usually power constrained
even if augmented by solar panels
and might have to return to base to recharge. Part of this problem can be solved by offloading computation to the cloud. Of course
this increases the power used for communications. \nCloud Robotics combines several technologies
including Cloud-based big data
cloud computing on demand
open source
data analytics and learning
and swarm behavior. Mobile Cloud Robotics assume the robots have a mobility platform. They could be identical service robots in a healthcare facility
or they could be multiple-domain systems
land
sea
air
underwater
with the Cloud server in the field. Even robot swarms in Space are feasible
for both exploration of large and diverse targets in the asteroid belt
and for planetary surface exploration.
Mobile Cloud Robotics
This book discusses the application of Cubesats in the exploration of our solar systems. Including the Sun
the eight primary planets and Pluto
many moons
the asteroid belt
comets
and the ring systems of the four gas giants
there is a lot to explore. Although the planets (and Pluto) have been visited by spacecraft
Earth's moon has been somewhat explored
and many of the other planets' moons have been imaged
there is a lot of “filling in the blanks” to be done. Here we examine the application of swarms of small independent spacecraft to take on this role. Some of the enabling technology's for cooperating swarms is examined. \nAlmost every Cubesat sent into space to this point has gone into Earth orbit
and is either there still
or has reentered the atmosphere. It's a big solar system
and there's a lot we don't know about it. Additionally
all Cubesats have launched as ride-along payloads. There are two approaches for using Cubesats for exploration away from Earth. One uses the demonstrated technology of solar sailing
and missions using this approach are being implemented. Another uses a large carrier-mothership
loaded with hundreds or Cubesats. This is sent to a destination. achieves orbit
and dispenses the Cubesats
providing a communications link with Earth. JPL is postulating this type of mission in the 2020's. They baseline a dormant cruise duration of 100-2200 days
followed by a Cubesat life of 1-7 days. Prior to that
the most likely scenario is a traditional exploration mission with some tag-along Cubesats. The next step beyond that is to make a swarm of Cubesats the primary payload.
Interplanetary Cubesats
This book covers the topic of Crewed Space Stations
from the earliest dreams to the current International Space Station
with some information on the planning of its replacement. Generally
we distinguish between a space capsule and a space station by the fact that the space station is permanently in orbit
and can be resupplied and new crews delivered
as veterans are returned to the ground. The orbital space station provides living accommodations for the crew
as well as experiment space. \nThe first mention of a crewed space station may be Edward Everett Hale's The Brick Moon
in 1899. The first instance of the torus or wheel shape is usually attributed to Potocnic
an Austrian
in The Problem of Space Travel
published around 1928. Pirquet picked up and expanded on this concept in his book
Die Rakette
1928. Hermann Noordung discussed space stations in his 1929 book
The Problem of Space Travel: The Rocket Motor.
Crewed Space Stationd
This book covers the topic of Manufacturing in Space
which is not that far away
and has actually been done on a small scale for many years. With permanent manufacturing facilities in space
near to lunar or asteroid resources
we will be able to fabricate facilities from local material
and extract rocket fuel. All of this can replace what we now need very large rockets up from Earth's “gravity well.” We can build the next generation stations and spacecraft in situ
in orbit. There are some major advantages for this. Spin-off company
providing logistics services
will be necessary. Space will be evolving as a frontier outpost. We have experience with those. But
space is a harsh environment
harsher than the Klondike during the gold rush. Yet
the gold rush happened.
Manufacturing n Space
This book covers the topic of On-orbit repair and servicing of spacecraft. Putting a communications satellite in synchronous orbit will set you back 100’s of millions of dollars. Once on orbit
you hope it survived the launch environment
and operates correctly. You further hope it works at least for its design lifetime
and as long as possible. This approach
based on good engineering design practices
lessons learned
and hope
it the equivalent of buying a new Tesla with non-rechargable batteries
and driving it until it stops. Then buying a new one.\n\nWe will discuss the history and the technology of on-orbit servicing
and the projects currently being conducted. We’ll take a look at ambitious planned projects
and the enabling technologies that will make them a success. We’ll speculate what this means to missions to other planets in our solar system
and the challenges to manned expeditions to follow the robotic ones.
In-Space Robotic Repair and Servicing of Spacecraft
This book covers the topic of Cubesat control centers. We'll take a look at the historical development of satellite control centers
and explain how new technology has vastly simplified the approach. The book will suggest several open source options
not only for the control center
but for the entire ground segment. \n\nWe'll disucss the various functions that a Cubesat Control Center does
and where to find software packages to implement those functions. \n\nAs technology advances
we have a better basis for Cubesat control centers
as well as cheaper yet more capable hardware
and better and more available software. With the proliferation of inexpensive Cubesat projects
colleges and universities
high school
and even individuals are getting their Cubesats launched. They all need control centers. For lower cost missions
these can be shared facilities. Communicating with and operating a spacecraft in orbit or on another planet is challenging
but is an extension of operating any remote system. We have communications and bandwidth issues
speed-of-light communication limitations
and complexity. Remote debugging is a always a challenge.
Cubesat Opeartions; How to Fly a Cubesat
When I say crewed spacecraft. I mean spacecraft with humans aboard. Young
or old
male or female
space travel is an equal opportunity hazardous endeavor. As of this writing
three spacefaring nations have put 559 humans into space
the Soviet Union/Russia
the United States
and China. Numerous astronauts from many other nations have hitched a ride. We are going to discuss historical
ongoing
and future efforts of getting people to space. We will mention in passing Space Stations in orbit
but that is a big topic
and will be covered in a companion volume. Space suits will be covered in a companion volume as well.
Crewed Spacecraft
This book covers the topic of the Deep Space Gateway
a joint Russian-US effort
and associated missions. This is a step beyond the International Space Station
which will be beyond its useful lifetime in a few years
and will be decommissioned
with some parts being reused
and some re-entered. This will result in a new era of human space exploration
further from Earth. Whether we refer to the emerging facility as a Gateway
a Colony
a settlement
or a habitat
we are talking of a permanently occupied facility. We can consider the habitat to be in orbit (about something)
or on the surface of another body
other than Earth. These projects will differ in detail
but will all consist of self-sufficient structures somewhere other than Earth
with an associated logistics train. The Gateway would be continuously crewed.
Deep Space Gateway
the Moon and Beyond
This book discusses the topic of Graphics Processing Units
which are specialized units found in most modern computer architectures. Although we can do operations of graphics data in regular arithmetic logic units (ALU's)
the hardware approach is much faster
Just like for floating pount arithmetic
specialized units speed up the process. We will discuss the applications for GPU's
the data format
and the operations they perform. These specialized units are the backbone to video
and to a large extent audio processing in modern computer architectures. \n\nThe GPU is a specialized computer architecture
focused on image data manipulation for graphics displays and picture processing. It has applications far that. The normal ALU
Arithmetic-Logic Unit
in a computer does the four basic math operations
and logical operations on integers. These integers are usually 32 or 64 bits at this time. The GPU greatly enhances the spped of 3D graphics. \n\nGPU's find application in arcade machines
games consoles
pc’s
tablets
phones
car dashboards
tv’s and entertainment systems. \n\nFirst
we'll look at the CPU
and the operations it performs on data. The CPU is fairly flexible on what it does
because of software. You can implement a GPU in software
but it won't be very fast. There's a similar co-processor
the floating point unit (FPU) that operates on specially formatted data. You can implement the floating point unit in software
actually
you can probably download the library
but it won't be as fast as using a dedicated piece of hardware. We'll first discuss integer data format
and operations on those data. The “L” part of ALU says we can also do logical (not math) operations on data. \n\n.
Graphics Processing Units
an Overview
This book covers the topic of the technology and applications of Embedded Graphics Processing Units. We first discuss what a graphics processing unit is
and how they have taken over the high performance computing market. We take a look at massively parallel microprocessor-based systems
an evolution from parallel mainframes
and see how this is applied to GPU's. Then
we take a look at embedded processors
derived from CPU's
and how multicore architectures are applied. We can then see how all of this practice was rapidly applied to GPU's.\nA major topic is the software to program and debug these unit
which are capable of Tera-mistakes per second. We will explore some of the commercial products
and applications. Fasten your seatbelt – it's that kind of a technology
Embedded GPU's
This book discusses the application of Cubesat Clusters
Constellations
and Swarms in the exploration of the solar systems. This includes the Sun
the 8 primary planets and Pluto
many moon
the asteroid belt
comets
the ring systems of the four gas giants
and comets. There is a lot to explore. U.S. Spacecraft have been to all of the planets in the solar system. Although the planets (and Pluto) have been visited by spacecraft
Earth's moon has been somewhat explored
and many of the other planets' moons have been imaged
there is a lot of “filling in the blanks” to be done. Here we explore the application of groups of small independent spacecraft to take on this role. Some of the enabling technology for cooperating swarms is examined. \nMissions to Mars and beyond are lengthy and expensive. We need to ensure that we are delivering payloads that will function and return new data. The tradeoff is between one or two large traditional spacecraft
and a new concept
a large number of nearly identical small spacecraft
operating cooperatively. Necessarily
the Technology Readiness Level of this approach must be proven in Earth orbit
before the resources are allocated to extend this approach to distant locations. Decades of time
and hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake. \nThe big picture is
Cubesats are not just secondary payloads anymore
They may be small
but a lot of them together can accomplish a lot. We'll discuss the technologies to make this happen.
Cubesat Constellations
Clusters
and Swarms
This paper discusses the design of a strawman InterPlanetary Cubesat Mission based on the parameters\nof the ongoing Juno Mission to Jupiter. That mission put a large spacecraft into Jupiter orbit. The\napproach presented here has a quantity of Cubesats as the primary payload. There is a large\n“Mothership” which enters Jovian orbit
and dispenses various Cubesats
acting as a store-and-forward\ncommunications relay back to Earth. The number of Cubesats is determined by the outlines (size
mass
\npower) of the mothership. We baselined the comparable numbers for the Juno spacecraft. With this\nscenario
we can include 333 3U Cubesats
with a large number of different instruments and sensors.\nHow the various spacecraft interact on this mission will be outlined in the paper.
A Cubesat-based alternative for the Juno Mission to Jupiter
Our technology is increasingly digital. Digital data is a quantitative value. It can approximate a analog (variable) or represent a digital (discrete) value. Analog data can be approximated in digital
to the accuracy required. Evidently
the word data in English dates back to 1640. There were references to transmittable and store-able computer information right after World War-II. References to “data processing” emerged in 1946
as “computer” began to refer to a room full of electronics
as apposed to a person with a mechanical calculator and a slide rule. Information is organized and analyzed data; answers to questions. Information reduces uncertainty. \nWe live in a digital age
where everything of interest to use is digital – either sampled analog
or originating as digital. Color is continuous
a full range of analog data. What we see on a TV screen or digital camera image is sampled version of that. Our technology is based on digital; that's how we store
transmit
and process information. Thus our data is digital. \nSTEM (Science
Technology
Engineering
Mathematics) is the key to the United States' continued dominance in High Technology. It took a lot of expertise to implement the first cell phone. Now they are turned out like cookies in third world countries. \nSTEM addresses overall education policy and curriculum sources in schools
at critical grade levels.\nAlthough the teachers are experts in their particular area
and know how to present grade-appropriate material
they may not know how to find and access access the advanced resources they need
or where to get help in a particular topic area.\n
STEM - Data Storage and Communications
This book covers the topic of Orbital debris
what it is
where it comes from
what problems it introduces
and how to deal with it. . Putting a communications satellite in synchronous orbit will set you back 100’s of millions of dollars. Once on orbit
you hope it survived the launch environment
and operates correctly. You further hope it works at least for its design lifetime
and as long as possible. This approach
based on good engineering design practices
lessons learned
and hope
it the equivalent of buying a new Tesla with non-rechargable batteries
and driving it until it stops. Then buying a new one. Regardless of what you were told
there is no satellite fairy with a magic wand. \nThis book includes an extensive bibliography
glossary
and list of resources.
Orbital Debris
This book covers the topic of the LOP-G
a renaming and restructuring of the Deep Space Gateway
a joint Russian-US effort
and associated missions. This is a step beyond the International Space Station
which will be beyond its useful lifetime in a few years
and will be decommissioned
with some parts being reused
and some re-entered. This will result in a new era of human space exploration
further from Earth. Whether we refer to the emerging facility as a Gateway
a Colony
a settlement
or a habitat
we are talking of a permanently occupied facility. We can consider the habitat to be in orbit (about something)
or on the surface of another body
other than Earth. These projects will differ in detail
but will all consist of self-sufficient structures somewhere other than Earth
with an associated logistics train. The Gateway would be continuously crewed.
Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway
There have been spacefarers from over 40 countries
taken along on shared missions by the craft of the major spacefaring nations
China
Russia
and the U. S. The International Space Station is truly an International effort. But these were all professional Astronauts or Cosmonnauts. That was their job.\n\nAt this time
there have been seven “space tourists
” who paid their own way
and five “spaceflgiht participants
” who flew on the Shuttle
or to the ISS. \n\nCan you fly to space now? The U.S. currently doesn't have a crewed transportation system.The Russians will charge you $76 million for a flight up on the Soyuz-M
if they have a seat available. You also receive training
and a couple of rides on the Vomit-Comet airplane
so you'll know what to expect in zero G. \n\nThe Space Tourism Industry is ready to begin. Like all new markets
it will evolve
become better and cheaper. It's expensive now
but a few have done it.\n\nNASA is not going to do this. They are in the science and technology business
and are a government agency
A cadre of entrepreneurs
space geeks
and crafty businessmen have better
less expensive options in the works. Stay tuned. Keep in touch. This is going to get exciting. \n\nThe book discusses options ranging from a quick trip above 100 km to earn the title “astronaut.” to month long vacations at a lunar resort
where you can fly
with wings
every day.
Space Tourism
This book discusses the resources and infrastructure that NASA developed and applied to support space missions in the early 1960's. When the first satellite
Vanguard
went up in 1958
there was no world-wide network of tracking stations. Thus
a series of ground stations
tracking ships
and tracking aircraft were required. When the crewed capsules of the Mercury
Gemini
and Apollo programs splashed down in the ocean
they were retrieved by U. S. Naval vessels for NASA. NASA has a couple of Ocean-going tugs to retrieve the solid rocket boosters used in the Shuttle Program. In addition
the size of the Shuttle external tank required water transportation on a barge
from the assembly point to the launch site. The Shuttle itself was flown from place to place on top of a specially modified 747 aircraft.
NASA;s Ships and Planes
This book follows Intel's excursions into the embedded space
with 8-
16-
and 32-bit processors
derived from their general purpose computer line. Intel has traditionally dominated the desktop
laptop
and server market
but has increasingly addressed the embedded space
and the Internet of Things We take a look at Intel's licensing of the ARM architecture
and the contributions to that area. This leads to the latest development
an Arduino architecture that doesn't use a ARM chip
but rather an x86 chip. Of course
it executes a different set of opcodes
but the magic is
at the source level
it uses the same code as the Arm. We just need a new set of software tools. The Arduino-101 from Intel
an x-86 architecture internally
can run source code developed for the standard ARM-based Arduinos.
Intel Embedded and the Arduino-101
Number 1 in the Cubesat Series.\nThis book is an introduction to Cubesats
those popular and relatively inexpensive modular spacecraft that are upending the aerospace world. They have been built and deployed by colleges and Universities around the world
as well as high schools and elementary schools
even individuals. This is because Cubesats are modular
standard
and relatively low cost. The expensive part is the launch
but that is addressed by launch fixtures compatible with essentially every launch vehicle on the planet. Although you may not have much of a choice in the orbit.Cubesats are also flown on high altitude balloons. \nAt the same time
professionals in aerospace have not failed to consider the Cubesat architecture as an alternative for small-sat missions. This can reduce costs by one or two orders of magnitude. There are Cubesats on the International Space Station
and these can be returned to Earth on a resupply mission. \n\nThere is a large “cottage industry' developed around the Cubesat architecture
addressing professional projects with space-rated hardware. NASA itself has developed Cubesat hardware (Pi-Sat) and Software (cfs).\nCubesats are modular
built to a standard
and mostly open-source. The downside is
approximately 50% of Cubesat missions fail. We hope to point out some approaches to improve this.
Cubesat Engineering
This book covers an overview topic of what is popularly referred to as Rocket Science
seen as a daunting topic
but not completely incomprehensible. This is targeted to the non-specialist. I am not a rocket scientist
but I know a lot of them. I are a Rocket Engineer. I'll explain the difference later.\nThe popular impression of “rocket science” as well as astrophysics is they are topics too complex for the lay-person. Well
if you want to work in the field
you will require a lot of physics
math and engineering at the graduate level. If you just want to understand and appreciate the topic
it's not that bad.
Rocket Science - 101
Patrick
Stakem
MEI Technologies
Inc
Capital Technology University
Loyola University in Maryland