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How synergy between amateur radio, systems and other engineering can raise

the technical quotient of a nation

Joseph Kasser, CM, CEng, CMALT (9V1CZ, G3ZCZ and VK5WU)Visiting Associate Professor

National University of SingaporeEmail joseph.kasser@incose.org

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Outline of the Presentation

Situational context1

The problem2

Amateur radio as one solution3

Use of amateur radio to teach models and simulations4

Solutions to problem5

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Situational context

Need for good systems engineers is greater than supply Education process has drop outs Students who do not complete the degree

Can we minimize drop outs? Can we pre-screen students for characteristics of

systems engineers? Literature review Characteristics and traits

• Five types of systems engineers CEST

• See next slide

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Capacity for Engineering Systems Thinking (CEST)

A proposed set of high order thinking skills that enable individuals to successfully perform systems engineering tasks 38 characteristics 14 cognitive characteristics, 12 capabilities, 9 behavioural competences 3 knowledge and experience

characteristics

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The problem

Recommend a way to pre-screen students applying to systems engineering programs to minimize drop out rates and maximize probability of producing good systems engineers

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45 6 7 8

* Tasks 2-7 from Hitchins, D. K., Systems Engineering. A 21st Century Systems Methodology, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Chichester, England, 2007., Figure 6.2

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Identify possible solutionsThink out of the box (Generic STP)

Question Is there anything similar to systems engineering that

can be used to pre-select students? Answer – “Yes” Educational modules that incorporate systems

engineering• Racing cars• Others

Technically inclined hobbies• Model rockets and aircraft• Amateur radio• Others

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Amateur radio

Technical hobby Many users of equipment, some developers/pioneers

Country Number of amateurradio operators

Year ofReport Source

Japan 1,296,059 1999 IARUUnited States 733,748 2010 FCCThailand 141,241 1999 IARUSouth Korea 141,000 2000 IARURepublic of China 68,692 1999 IARUPeople's Republic of China 20,000 2008 CRSA

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12 systems engineering roles (Sheard, 1996)

1. Requirements owner 2. System designer 3. Systems analysts 4. Validation and verification 5. Logistics and operations 6. Glue 7. Customer interface 8. Technical manager 9. Information manager 10. Process engineer 11. Coordinator 12. Classified Ads systems engineering

Common chararacteristics

Ability to findsimilarities among objects which seem

to be different

High Problem solvers (III)

Innovators (V)

Low Imitators, Doers (II)

Problem formulators

(IV)

“Ability to find” comes from

application of holistic thinking

Low High

Ability to find differencesamong objects which seem to

be similar

* Gordon G. et al. “A Contingency Model for the Design of Problem Solving Research Program”, Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly, p 184-220, 1974 cited by Gharajedaghi, System Thinking: Managing chaos and Complexity, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1999 9

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Radio amateur achievements

Discovered and pioneered the long distance communications potential of short waves in the early years of the 20th century

Pioneered many of the techniques now used for the vhf/uhf personal communications services

Constructed and communicated via the world's first multiple access communications satellite (OSCAR 3) in 1965

Pioneered the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) System now used to locate downed aircraft via AMSAT-OSCAR 6 in the mid 1970’s

Often provide communications capabilities for the public services immediately following a natural disaster

Aspects of amateur radio*

11* Yeo, Nai Kwang Jeff, 29 Oct 2010

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LEO Satellite communications terminal (1974)

System integration

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Systems engineering situation

International cooperation building the spacecraft Arranging for a launch Multiple communications users with different

ground stations Receivers, transmitters

Keeping track of communications windows Telemetry, tracking and control Morse code, digital, speech

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AMSAT-OSCAR-10

Elliptical orbit DX - 25,000kM Beams and low power 2-TV rotator AZ-EL mount Reliable propagation Time delay on signals

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Models and simulations Can also be used in teaching

examples Case studies

Needed to develop learning component in MDTS systems engineering course

Students had been taught about simulations and models and how to use them, but not how to develop them or how they related

Example was available 1984 – Reuse after 26 years

Shows need for, and relationship between, systems engineering and domain knowledge Communications at HF Digital computer hardware

and software• Pushing state of art

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ARRL Sweepstakes contest [1977]

Contact (work) as many other stations as possible within 48 hour period Weekends in November

Exchange simulated emergency message Use different frequency bands with different

propagation characteristics Score = number of contacts * multiplier Multiplier is number of ARRL Sections contacted

• Section only counts once irrespective of frequency band

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Definition of the problem

The time was 1980 Understand the factors

involved in the ARRL sweepstakes contest well enough to enable an operator in Silver Spring, MD to contact all the Sections given the constraints of low radiated power

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ARRL Sections in 1977

Numbers are assigned for this project not by the ARRL

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Issues

Operational Located in Silver Spring, Maryland Want to contact all sections in a contest Want to make as high as score as possible Will be using low radiated power Have no way of knowing when a section is active

other than by hearing it on the air Operating at home, family and other interruptions

possible

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CONOPS of Model

Use before contest to plan when to operate on which bands

• To contact sections when propagation is possible

Use during contest to see which sections are still needed so as to re-

plan when to operate on which bands• Go for section multiplier• Go for higher contact rate• Go for both Interface to

“knowledge” needed

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Functions – sample listing

Call CQ (F_CQ) Receive a call from another station (F_RX) Check for duplicate (F_CK) Exchange message (F_QSO) Send message (F_TXM) Receive message (F_RXM)

Log contact (F_LOG) Tune band (F_QSY) Hear another station (F_QRV) In QSO Calling CQ Not in contest

Time outs (F_QRX) Etc.

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Partial functional N2 chart

F_CQ o o o3

o F_RX o o1 o2 o o4

o F_CK o o o

o F_B4 o

o F_TXM o o o

o o F_RXM o o

o F_LOG o

o F_QSY o

o o o F_QRV

outputs – horizontal squares, inputs – vertical squares

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Partial functional N2 chart

F_CQ o o o3

o F_RX o o1 o2 o

o F_CK o o o

o F_B4 o

o F_TXM o o o

o o F_RXM o o

o F_LOG o

o F_QSY o

o o o F_QRV

outputs – horizontal squares, inputs – vertical squares

F_QSO

Single input, candidate for aggregation

Candidate for aggregation with F_QSO

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Types of aggregation/cohesion*

Coincidental cohesion (worst) arbitrary

Logical cohesion logically are categorized to do the same thing, even if they are

different by nature Temporal cohesion are processed at a particular time in program execution

Procedural cohesion always follow a certain sequence of execution

Communicational cohesion operate on the same data

Sequential cohesion output from one part is the input to another part like an assembly

line Functional cohesion (best) all contribute to a single well-defined task of the module

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cohesion_(computer_science), accessed 21 September 2010

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How do you determine system functions?

Top down? Bottom up? Middle out? All of the above?

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Operational factors affecting probability of radio communication between two locations

1. Probability of someone being at other location (Section)• Number of amateurs at location• Time of day

– Working hours, sleeping hours2. Probability that frequency band is open allowing

communication3. Received signal levels at each end of link

• Radiated power, receiving parameters4. Probability and amount of interference from other

amateur stations in contest at each end of link5. Electrical power at sending station

Apply knowledge by stating (assumption) that since this is a

contest, there will be people active at all times of the day

P = ∑( p1, p2, p3, p4, p5)

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Testing Section calculation model*

Monte Carlo runs of model

Individual runs (6) Average

Conclusion:

Approach is feasible, if used, numbers would need to be tweaked in realization phase

Numbers from published results

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Radio amateurs in space

NASA Many Space Shuttle flights STS-35 December 1990

• Mission specialist Dr Ron Parise, WA4SIR International Space Station

Russia (Soviet Union) MIR

Educational uses Contacts with schools

Hobby uses to combat boredom of long duration flights Technical experiments Automated communications/command and control software

development

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IRLP: Internet Radio Linking Project

They don’t know it is a “systems of systems” problem, so they are just getting on and

doing it.

Links > 4000 VHF/UHF repeaters worldwide VOIP Evolving radio

equipment Multiple manufacturers Dial-up tone control

access http://www.irlp.net/

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http://www.irlp.net/typical_node.html

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Big picture – roles exist in Layers 1 - 4

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AUD $20,000 Yagi*

* Kasser J.E., The $20,000 Yagi, Radcom, August 2007

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Left over wood – matter of perspective

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Path to Type V systems engineer

Attraction of Communications

HardwareAntenna

Receivers

Radio communication systems

SoftwareData processing

Spacecraft orbit predictions, telemetry processing

Communications terminalsModeling and simulations

Systems thinking

developed & applied here

TransmittersVHF, QRP

Systems thinking applied here

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Radio amateurs – in summary

Systems engineering Communications Engineering Researchers Scientists

• Nobel prize winners

A trained, motivated and volunteer resource to be tapped in times of emergency Natural disasters Wartime and terrorist attacks

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Solutions to problem

Amateur radio is but one domain in which to find candidate systems engineers All potential domains could be used Interesting to compare results years from now

Typical interview questions Have candidates done any experimenting? What did they learn from the experiments?

• Do they think systems?• Do their eyes glint with passion when they talk about their

experiences?

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Summary

Situational context1

The problem2

Amateur radio as one solution3

Use of amateur radio to teach models and simulations4

Solutions to problem5Roles

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