Resume

• 1979

  PhD program in Optical Networking.

  EE

  The Catholic University of America

• 1977

  Master of Science (MSc)

  Computer Science

  Johns Hopkins University

• 1971

  MS

  Physics

  Computer Science

  Johns Hopkins University

• 1967

  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

• 1966

  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