1 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 Singapore Email [email protected]
Radio amateurs provide a pool of technically competent personnel that contribute to information engineering and communications and other technical professions in countries in which it is an established hobby; countries such as Japan and the USA. In the Asia-Pacific region, while Japan has more radio amateurs than any other country, governments of the lesser developed countries tend to ignore amateur radio as a source of the indigenous personnel needed to help provide the benefits of 21st century technology. This paper first addresses the problem of educating good systems engineers by suggesting that potential students be preselected from pools of candidates who show characteristics deemed desirable in systems engineers. The paper then shows that one source of partially trained personnel maybe found among the technical members of the amateur radio community and similar technical hobbies. The paper then discusses some of the technical achievements of amateur radio followed by the twelve engineering roles of amateur radio in the manner of (Sheard 1996) and proposes that there is enough similarity between amateur radio’s technical activities and the role of systems engineering so that amateur radio can provide a source for students with experience in systems engineering activities. The last section of the paper then mentions some amateur radio failures that systems engineering should have prevented and concludes with a discussion on recruiting young systems engineers via amateur radio clubs, some synergy between INCOSE and amateur radio clubs and suggestions for future research
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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
Use of amateur radio to teach models and simulations4
Solutions to problem5
3
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
4
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
1 23
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
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