Artificial Intelligence is taking the computing world by storm. The advances in this area are truly amazing. For this reason, the boss at Applied Technology Institute asked me write a blog about AI, and to promote ATI AI courses. Full disclosure, prior to working on this blog, I was not a user of AI tools […]
Artificial Intelligence is taking the computing world by storm. The advances in this area are truly amazing. For this reason, the boss at Applied Technology Institute asked me write a blog about AI, and to promote ATI AI courses.
Full disclosure, prior to working on this blog, I was not a user of AI tools like ChatGPT. I did not feel that I needed these tools, as Google search has always served me well. If I wanted to research a particular topic, google search would send me to dozens of web pages related to my topic, and I could look at as many of those pages necessary in order to teach myself enough to answer my question about my topic. In short, google gave me all the resources I needed to research the topic.
To start, I watched a few videos about AI, and I read some articles about AI. I found Youtube videos by Christopher Penn (AI Keynote Speaker Christopher Penn) most helpful. After watching a few of his videos, i felt like i was smart enough to start gathering my thoughts. I began by making a list of the attributes of the google search engine, and I would then learn the benefits of AI queries. It would be a lot of work, but I was up for the job.
Then, an epiphany. I could use ChatGPT to do all that work for me.
So, I simply asked ChatGPT, “What is the difference between doing a google search and doing an AI Query using ChatGPT?” In seconds, the answer was before me.
Google provides Links, while AI provides direct answers
Google shows a list, while AI explains, summarizes, and rewords.
Each google search stands alone, AI maintains context between queries.
Google results are passive, while AI results generate content and solve problems.
Google results are current, while AI results will only reflect information from training data.
I could not have said it better myself. And, it was certainly easier.
During the period while this blog was in progress, my normal day to day life was happening too. Every day, I would run into problems that required an Internet Search. What do we know about the Battle of West Frederick? What are the rules that govern an Amateur Wrestling match? How did the McLeod family get from Scotland to the US? In every case, rather than do a google search, I used ChatGPT, and the results were remarkable. I had a more complete answer, more quickly, and with less effort.
AI may sound great, but one must be careful with query results because they are sometimes incorrect. The onus is on the user to determine if the results are correct. In one notable example, I asked ChatGPT to tell me about Bob McLeod from ATI. ChatGPT correctly said that I was the Science Advisor for ATI, but it then went on the say that I was also a Professor at University of Colorado, which I am NOT. It also showed my picture, and the picture was NOT me. So, there were erroneous results from this query, and I needed to cypher them out. I wonder if there is a way for me to correct ChatGPT so it never gives this erroneous information to someone else. It turns out there is a way.
AI models periodically use every resource available to build a model that it uses to answer queries. So, if you are a company that wants to have better exposure In AI responses, or if you are user who wants to correct something erroneous in the model, the way to do that is to …. BE EVERYWHERE ALWAYS. The more your name, or your company name, appears on Web Pages, You Tube Videos, Linked In articles, Source notes ( etc, etc, etc ), the more the AI model will know about you. And, the more the model knows about you, the more likely it is to tell users about you, and the likelihood is higher that it will tell users correct information about you.
The boss wanted me to highlight ATI short courses related to AI. Unfortunately, and surprisingly, ATI does not currently have any AI courses. As the Science Advisor at ATI, my recommendation to the boss was that we should find an Instructor who can teach an AI courses for ATI. If you are that person, please contact ATI, as we would love to talk to you about teaching for ATI.
In closing, it occurs to me that my job writing this blog could have been much easier if I had just entered the following into ChatGPT. “ Hey Chatty, Bob McLeod here, Science Advisor for ATI and NOT a professor at University of Colorado. Please tell me the benefits of an AI query over a conventional Google Search. While you are at it, make sure you tell me how I can improve my exposure in AI searches. Also, please help ATI to find an instructor who is willing to present their AI short course to ATI students. Thanks for you help on this Chatty.” I actually tried this to see what it came up with. The result was very good, but I did not use it for this blog. Also, ChatGPT apologized for confusing me with a University of Colorado Professor, and promised it would correct its data base and never say that again.
I am now a believer in AI queries, and do not anticipate using a conventional Google search again.
Check out www.aticourses.com for a complete list of ATI short courses. With any luck, we will have AI Short Courses to offer soon.
I love Statistics. So, lets look at a few. I found some amazing statistics about Technical Training in a blog by Lorman Educational Services, a technical training company that offers some great training opportunities, but they are not a competitor of ATI as they do not offer the kind of Technical Training that ATI does. […]
I love Statistics. So, lets look at a few.
I found some amazing statistics about Technical Training in a blog by Lorman Educational Services, a technical training company that offers some great training opportunities, but they are not a competitor of ATI as they do not offer the kind of Technical Training that ATI does. Here are just a few of the stats that they shared. The full list can be found here.
Nearly 59% of employees claim they had no workplace training and that most of their skills were self-taught.
74% of workers are willing to learn new skills or re-train in order to remain employable.
87% of millennials believe learning and development in the workplace is important.
59% of millennials claim development opportunities are extremely important when deciding whether to apply for a position.
Only 29% of employees are “very satisfied” with their current career advancement opportunities available within their organization.
34% of employees are very satisfied with their job-specific training even though 41% of them consider it to be very important.
74% of surveyed employees feel they aren’t reaching full potential at work due to lack of development opportunities.
41% of employees consider their organization’s career advancement opportunities a very important factor to their job satisfaction.
76% of millennials believe professional development opportunities are one of the most important aspects of company culture.
76% of employees say that a company would be more appealing if it offered additional skills training to its staff.
59% of employees invest in their own upskilling, to a certain extent.
61% of adults in the United States seek career development opportunities when considering job opportunities. 70% of employees would be somewhat likely to leave their current job to work for an organization known for investing in employee development and learning.
34% of employees who left their previous job were motivated to do so by more career development opportunities.
86% of millennials would be kept from leaving their current position if training and development were offered by their employer.
Over 70% of high-retention-risk employees will leave their company in order to advance their career.
Retention rates rise 30-50% for companies with strong learning cultures.
These statistics make a pretty strong case for technical training. It is worth noting that these statistics indicate that the benefits of training are felt by the employee, the management, the company, and the customers of the company. A quality training program improves the morale and productivity of the employee, makes the employee more professionally satisfied with their job, helps job retention, improves the quality of the product that the company produces, and saves the company money. Technical Training is a winning proposition for everyone.
Applied Technology Institute is here to provide Technical Training for your scientists and engineers.
If you are a scientist or engineer:
Take a look at the ATI web page ( www.aticourses.com ) and see if any of our courses might help you to do your job better. If you find good courses, ask to take them!
Take advantage of our Free Training Opportunities; details on Free Sessions at ATI Site.
Share our web page with your peers, and encourage them to take a look.
Talk to your management, and express your desire to become better trained.
If you are an employer of scientists and engineers:
Take a look at the ATI web page ( www.aticourses.com ) and see if any of our courses might help your staff to do their job better
Share our web page with your scientists and engineers, and encourage them to keep current in their fields.
Call ATI, and see if you may want us to present a custom course to your staff.
Whether you decide to use ATI or not, stress the importance of technical training to your staff.
As an avid fan of the Baltimore Orioles, I was very excited about their 2024 season, but not so much so far with their 2025 season. While Sports and Sports Teams can be fickle, technical training is not. You can be assured that technical training will benefit you and your staff today, tomorrow, and throughout the all the upcoming baseball seasons.
I am a scanner geek. Whenever I hear sirens, I run for my scanner to see what is going on. A directory which shows me what frequencies are used by various organizations, so I discovered the frequencies used by pilots to communicate with the tower. The next time I flew, I pulled out my scanner […]
I am a scanner geek. Whenever I hear sirens, I run for my scanner to see what is going on. A directory which shows me what frequencies are used by various organizations, so I discovered the frequencies used by pilots to communicate with the tower. The next time I flew, I pulled out my scanner and listened to the pilots talk to the Air Traffic Controllers. While serving me coffee, a steward asked me what the scanner was, and I told her I was listening to the pilot communicate. She left, only to return a few minutes later, to tell me that the pilot wanted to speak with me. I sheepishly went into the cockpit ( clearly this story predates September 11 ) and explained my actions to the pilot.
The pilot explained he was concerned that my scanner would cause Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) that could interfere with his communications or navigation equipment. It is similar to the reason why cell phone use is not permitted during flight. In reality, he explained, cell phones and scanners are designed to strict standards, and it is very unlikely that they would generate enough EMI to interfere with the plane systems, but they are banned nonetheless in an abundance of caution, in light of the importance of communications and navigation in an airplane. He was a good natured fellow, and told me I could continue listening, but I must agree to turn off my scanner if and when directed to do so by the Steward. I agreed to those terms.
So, what is this thing called EMI and how is it controlled?
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) can be caused when electrical flow produces a magnetic field which could impact nearby or connected equipment. When designing a system, it is critical to understand and control EMI with the use of Electromagnetic Control ( EMC ) techniques so that the system works as intended, and so that it does not create problems for other nearby systems. Controlling and understanding EMI is so important that the military has adapted strict guidelines to control both box level EMI requirements ( MIL-STD-461 ) and system level EMI requirements ( MIL-STD-464 ). EMC testing is a critical part of system design, and should be rigorously conducted throughout the design process, both before and after the system is fielded in its intended environment.
Since EMC is a critical part of the design process in military systems, ATI will be offering a course called “EMI/EMC in Military Systems.” In this course, you will learn:
How to identify, prevent, and fix common problems
Rules of Thumb to help you make quick design decisions
EMI/EMC troubleshooting techniques
MIL-STD-461 and MIL-STD-464 requirements
EMI/EMC documentation requirements
This course will be available at ATI soon, but in the meantime, we will be offering a free, one-hour, lunchtime webinar where you will be able to meet our new Instructor, Ms. Karen Burnham. During this webinar at 12:30 Eastern on May 19, Karen will give an overview of EMI/EMC in Military Systems, and will describe in more detail the contents of her upcoming course.
To register for the Free Webinar, please go to the registration page which can be found here.
When I began my career working in the field of Submarine Security, I was excited about the opportunity to work with such awesome navy vessels. The size, complexity, and mission of the Submarine intrigued me. I found myself at a disadvantage, however, because many my peers on my projects were ex-submariners, and were much more […]
When I began my career working in the field of Submarine Security, I was excited about the opportunity to work with such awesome navy vessels. The size, complexity, and mission of the Submarine intrigued me. I found myself at a disadvantage, however, because many my peers on my projects were ex-submariners, and were much more familiar with how submarines worked, and how the submarine community interacted with each other. I quickly realized that I needed a crash course on Submarines and Submariners, so that I was better prepared to work in this field.
If you are finding yourself in a similar situation, ATI is here to help you.
ATI is offering a course “Submarines and Submariners”. This three-day course is designed for engineers in the field of submarine R&D and Operational Test and Evaluation. It is an introductory course presenting the fundamental philosophy of submarine design, submerged operation and combat system employment as they are managed by a battle-tested submarine organization that all-in-all make a US submarine a very cost-effective warship at sea—and under it.
Today’s US submarine tasking is discussed in consonance with the strategy and policy of the US, and the goals, objectives, mission, functions, tasks, responsibilities, and roles of the US Navy as they are so funded. Submarine warfare is analyzed referencing some calculations for a Benefits-to-Cost analysis, in that, Submarines Sink Ships!
If you would find this course helpful, please consider signing up for this offering coming up in May. If you would like to learn more about the course, or if you would like to register, you can find what you need here.
And as always, a complete listing of ATI’s courses can be found at www.aticourses.com .
The times are changing rapidly, and ATI is aware of that. As budgets get cut, and as fear or budget cuts increases, we understand that Technical Training is often one of the first things that gets neglected. We don’t like that, but we understand it. Technical Training remains very important, regardless of the political climate. […]
The times are changing rapidly, and ATI is aware of that. As budgets get cut, and as fear or budget cuts increases, we understand that Technical Training is often one of the first things that gets neglected. We don’t like that, but we understand it.
Technical Training remains very important, regardless of the political climate. Even if your budgets do not support conventional Technical Training at the moment, we would like to offer up some suggestions on how you can keep current in your field, and be ready to jump back into training when the climate stabilizes.
If you happen to work in an area that is not affected by training budget cuts, please make sure to keep taking courses, and encourage your peers to do the same.
Attend conferences. Many conferences offer free passes for their trade shows. Attending these shows can be very educational, and if the conference is local, it is a very inexpensive endeavor. ATI will be at the upcoming Satellite Conference in Washington DC, and we would love to talk to you.
Read journals. Now that so many journals publish on the internet, it is very easy and cheap to read about all the current news relevant to your job.
Look for free training opportunities. ATI offers a free webinar to introduce upcoming courses. Even if you can’t attend the full course, the “short session” is informative. Check the ATI homepage for upcoming free short sessions. Additionally, many other technical training companies offer free options.
Remind your chain of command that you are interested in technical training, and suggest courses, ATI or otherwise, that you think would be helpful when the budgets allow.
Sign up to be on the ATI mailing list ( if you are not already on it ) so that you will see everything we have to offer.
Please feel free to share how you personally are getting your training accomplished during this period. ATI would love to put out another blog sharing how people are navigating training at the moment.
ATI looks forward to satisfying your training needs now, and well into the future.
When I began my career working in the field of Submarine Security, I was excited about the opportunity to work with such awesome navy vessels. The size, complexity, and mission of the Submarine intrigued me. I found myself at a disadvantage, however, because many my peers on my projects were ex-submariners, and were much more […]
When I began my career working in the field of Submarine Security, I was excited about the opportunity to work with such awesome navy vessels. The size, complexity, and mission of the Submarine intrigued me. I found myself at a disadvantage, however, because many my peers on my projects were ex-submariners, and were much more familiar with how submarines worked, and how the submarine community interacted with each other. I quickly realized that I needed a crash course on Submarines and Submariners, so that I was better prepared to work in this field.
If you are finding yourself in a similar situation, ATI is here to help you.
ATI is offering a course “Submarines and Submariners”. This two-day course is designed for engineers in the field of submarine R&D and Operational Test and Evaluation. It is an introductory course presenting the fundamental philosophy of submarine design, submerged operation and combat system employment as they are managed by a battle-tested submarine organization that all-in-all make a US submarine a very cost-effective warship at sea—and under it.
Today’s US submarine tasking is discussed in consonance with the strategy and policy of the US, and the goals, objectives, mission, functions, tasks, responsibilities, and roles of the US Navy as they are so funded. Submarine warfare is analyzed referencing some calculations for a Benefits-to-Cost analysis, in that, Submarines Sink Ships!
If you would find this course helpful, please consider signing up for this offering, but do not delay, as the course begins next week, on Feb 11. If you would like to learn more about the course, or if you would like to register, you can find what you need here.
And as always, a complete listing of ATI’s courses can be found at www.aticourses.com .
System Engineers and Program Managers both desire to reduce overall risks and increaseopportunities on their system or program. Some of this is working as a team to explore bettercombinations of life cycle, processes, tools, staffing, tradeoffs, that are better tailored to thesituation they currently are faced with and its associated technology and environment. Itincludes balancing […]
System Engineers and Program Managers both desire to reduce overall risks and increase opportunities on their system or program. Some of this is working as a team to explore better combinations of life cycle, processes, tools, staffing, tradeoffs, that are better tailored to the situation they currently are faced with and its associated technology and environment. It includes balancing cost, schedule, performance, risk, and flexibility decisions.
INCOSE Systems Engineering handbook in 2023 greatly expanded and improved its section of tailoring (the best mix of formality and flexibility for the allocated resources). PMI and DoD have some excellent references on Risk and Opportunity management. Opportunities are the opposite of risks. Issues are risk that have happened. How we plan and adjust plans for the changes in our system or program in this fast changing and increased complexity world will drive our ultimate success.
So, if you want to improve your System or Program you may want to start 2025 off with this 1- day ATI course, Tailoring Systems Engineering for Risk, Issues, and Opportunities, to avoid the one size fits all approach. This one-day course begins with an overview of tailoring and Risk, Issues and Opportunities for Portfolios, Programs, and Projects. The instructor will discuss Acquirer and Supplier roles, Acquisition Strategy and Planning SE over the system(s) life cycle. To Register, or to learn more about this ATI course coming up in January, please visit here. As always, you can find information on other ati short-courses at www.aticourses.com .
Not Tax Time yet. Not Spring Break Time yet. Not Superbowl Time yet. Not March Madness yet. So, what time is it? It’s New Years Resolution Time!!!! Let me digress…. Last month, I had some dental work done. Every time I go to my dentist, I am impressed that he shares with me some recent […]
Not Tax Time yet. Not Spring Break Time yet. Not Superbowl Time yet. Not March Madness yet.
So, what time is it?
It’s New Years Resolution Time!!!!
Let me digress…. Last month, I had some dental work done. Every time I go to my dentist, I am impressed that he shares with me some recent discovery in the dental field, or he has invested in some new piece of equipment that has revolutionized dentistry. My dentist recognizes the value of keeping current in his chosen field, and as a consequence, he has many happy clients, like me.
So, what is your New Years Resolution going to be this year? I would like to suggest that you chose something which is attainable. By doing so, you will have a greater chance of success, and you will feel better about yourself.
Here are some examples of what I am talking about.
Bad Resolution: I am going to run a Marathon in 2025
Better Resolution: I am going to run two 5Ks in 2025.
Bad Resolution: I am going to become a Millionaire
Better Resolution: I am going to increase my IRA contribution by 4%
Bad Resolution: I am going to get a PHD so that my boss will respect me more.
Better Resolution: I am going to enroll in some Short Course Training with ATI, so that my boss will respect me more.
That’s right, Taking Short Courses with ATI is a way to keep current in your field, advance your career, gain the respect of your management, and do all of it with minimal disruption to your personal life.
I encourage everyone to go to the ATI homepage at www.aticourses.com and check out the large selection of courses that we are already offering, or that we could consider offering if there is a demand. If you see a course you like on our upcoming schedule, go ahead and register. If you see a course in our catalogue which is not currently scheduled, call us and tell us you are interested in that course. We have both virtual offerings, and in-person offerings.
ATI is here to help you with your Technical Training needs, and we wish all of our students, and prospective students, a safe and happy holiday, and a prosperous 2025.
Although the term “Systems Engineering” dates back to the 1940s, and the concept was practiced even earlier than that, there seems to be a growing emphasis on System Engineering, perhaps because Systems have become more complex in recent times. During my early years of training and practice as an electrical engineer decades ago, I do […]
Although the term “Systems Engineering” dates back to the 1940s, and the concept was practiced even earlier than that, there seems to be a growing emphasis on System Engineering, perhaps because Systems have become more complex in recent times. During my early years of training and practice as an electrical engineer decades ago, I do not recall hearing or learning much about Systems Engineering, but it seems to have gotten much more well-deserved attention since then. Feel free to argue these points if you wish, but this has been my observation.
So, what can go wrong if Systems Engineering principles are ignored? What could possibly go wrong if you have multiple engineers concentrating on their own aspect of the overall design, and no one paying attention to the overall system? We can only imagine. The cost of hiring a Systems Engineer may be a small addition to your budget, but it will be far outweighed by your cost savings in the end.
One of the best descriptions of Systems Engineering that I have
seen is from INCOSE ( International Council on Systems Engineering ). It says “Systems engineers are at the heart of creating successful new
systems. They are responsible for the system concept, architecture, and design.
They analyze and manage complexity and risk. They decide how to measure whether
the deployed system actually works as intended. They are responsible for a
myriad of other facets of system creation. Systems engineering is the
discipline that makes their success possible – their tools, techniques,
methods, knowledge, standards, principles, and concepts. The launch of
successful systems can invariably be traced to innovative and effective systems
engineering.”
So, how can today’s busy and overworked engineer learn more about Systems Engineering? Or, even if you think you already know everything about Systems Engineering, how can you refresh your knowledge so it is more relevant to the workplace of 2025?
Applied Technology Institute has exactly what you are looking for. ATI offers a full line of Systems Engineering courses, from introductory level, to advanced level. Some of these courses are on our upcoming schedule, and some are not. If you like a course that is on our schedule, just register using our website. If you would like us to offer a course that is not currently on our schedule, give us a call, and we will see what we can do for you.
We all remember the #1 Rule for Fight Club; “You do not talk about Fight Club”. It turns out Space Wars have a #1 Rule too. Continue reading to learn what it is. The author of this blog spent a portion of his career working for the Submarine Security Program, sponsored by the Chief Of […]
We all remember the #1 Rule for Fight Club; “You do not talk about Fight Club”. It turns out Space Wars have a #1 Rule too. Continue reading to learn what it is.
The author of this blog spent a portion of his career working for the Submarine Security Program, sponsored by the Chief Of Naval Operations. The mission of the Security Program is to ensure that the US Strategic Nuclear Submarine Force is equipped to operate in a way that ensures their safety and survivability in peacetime, so that they stand ready to perform their mission if and when called upon to do so. It is vital that SSBNs are in constant readiness to perform their mission when called upon. This is the basic principal of strategic deterrence at sea.
An upcoming Lecture Series being offered by ATI is called “How To Fight And Win Space Wars”.
As an individual who concentrated on Sea Wars, I had never given much thought to Space Wars, but it is noteworthy that Sea Wars and Space Wars have much in common.
Paul Szymanski, the presenter of the upcoming ATI Lecture Series, authored a paper titled “How To Fight and Win the Coming Space War”. Mr. Szymanski has 50 years’ experience in space war policy, doctrine, strategy, simulations, surveillance, survivability, threat assessment, long-range strategic planning, and command and control. In his paper, he discusses what he believes are the Top 40 Rules to Fight and Win a Space War. His #1 Rule sounded oddly familiar to myself when I read it.
Paul claims that the #1 rule of winning a Space War is to ensure that the assets which will be used during a Space War are safe, secure, and survivable during the peacetime period which precedes the Space War. Again, if the satellites or weapons which will be instrumental during a space war are vulnerable or destroyed before the war begins, the outcome of the war will not be a good one for the US.
ATI encourages everyone to hear what Paul has to teach us about the upcoming Space Wars. Paul will be presenting a free half-hour webinar titled “How To Fight And Win Space Wars” on November 22. Based on student response to this Webinar, ATI will be offering other Space Wars Lectures by Paul in the coming months.
This free webinar is a great way to introduce yourself to both the instructor and the topic at no cost. Feel free to attend the webinar even if you have no plan to attend future lectures; maybe you will learn something, and maybe Paul will change your mind about future lectures.
To learn more, and to register for the upcoming free Space Wars lecture, please visit here.
To learn more about other upcoming offerings at ATI, please visit www.aticourses.com .
As time marches on, technology is becoming more advanced, and advances in Antenna and Arrays are no exception. One of the many advances in Antennas has been miniaturization. Many of the devices today that rely on Antenna could not have even been imagined until Antenna miniaturization was developed. In the 1960s, scientists thought they had […]
As time marches on, technology is becoming more advanced, and advances in Antenna and Arrays are no exception. One of the many advances in Antennas has been miniaturization. Many of the devices today that rely on Antenna could not have even been imagined until Antenna miniaturization was developed.
In the 1960s, scientists thought they had pushed the limits of antenna miniaturization when they invented the Television glasses. These glasses needed a TV antenna to receive the TV signal, but they simply attached rabbit ears to the glasses; ingenious. Surely, the gentlemen in this picture must have thought that life could not get much better than to be able to watch television with glasses.
On the fictional front during the same era, who could forget “My Favorite Martian”? Uncle Martin could only communicate with Mars if he raised the antenna that came out of this head. Being caught with his antenna raised provide a lot of material for the writers; imagine how dry the show would have been if miniaturization had permitted Uncle Martin to fully hide his antenna at all times.
But miniaturization is a reality now, and many of the devices that we use every day take advantage of this technology. Our cell phones contain miniature embedded antenna, and those antennae seem to get better every time a new phone is introduced. In addition to cell phones, many wearable devices use embedded miniature antenna. In addition to wrist watches that connect to the internet, there are many medical devices which can be worn on or in the human body that need to send and receive information via a miniature antenna. If you think about it, you probably have many devices that have an embedded miniature antenna.
Antenna technology is something that all engineers need to be familiar with, as it impacts so many aspects of so many devices and systems. Perhaps its time to brush up on your understanding of Antenna and Array Fundamentals. ATI is here to help. Consider taking the upcoming ATI short-course Antenna and Array Fundamentals. This three-day course teaches the basics of antenna and antenna array theory. Fundamental concepts such as beam patterns, radiation resistance, polarization, gain/directivity, aperture size, reciprocity, and matching techniques are presented. Different types of antennas such as dipole, loop, patch, horn, dish, and helical antennas are discussed and compared and contrasted from a performance and applications standpoint.
To learn more about the ATI short course Antenna and Array Fundamentals, and to Register interest in attending, please visit this site, which can also be found on the ATI homepage at www.aticourses.com . Don’t delay in registering for this class, as it is coming up quickly, and seats are filling. We hope to see you there.
Since there has been some incredible space exploration news in the last several days, it only seems fitting that I should remind all my readers that we should still be fascinated by advances in ocean science too. The advances we are making in Space are wonderful, but we must simultaneously explore the oceans which are […]
Since there has been some incredible space exploration news in the last several days, it only seems fitting that I should remind all my readers that we should still be fascinated by advances in ocean science too. The advances we are making in Space are wonderful, but we must simultaneously explore the oceans which are much closer to us, and also contain resources which stand to benefit mankind.
Consider taking the ATI course Applied Physical Oceanography.
This two-day course covers the physical (emphasis on physics) concepts and some of the mathematical background of this exciting field of oceanography. It is designed as a primer for the professional who wants to learn more about the broad field of physical oceanography. There will be a strong emphasis on understanding the basic ocean processes. The course begins with a description of how the ocean system works and the basic governing equations. Other topics range from fundamental small waves to planetary-scale ocean currents, as well as some of the instruments employed to measure them, e.g., Satellite Altimetry. Additional subjects include boundary layers, waves, tides, Ekman flow, and the Gulf Stream. Also studied will be the ocean processes that impact our climate such as El Niño and the Thermohaline Conveyor Belt. It concludes with some research in tide measurements and a discussion of the ‘smaller’ seas, such as the Arctic Ocean!
To learn more about this course, and the Instructor, and to Register, please go here. Don’t waste any time though, this course is right around the corner, and filling up quickly.
So, where is the best place to see the April 8 solar eclipse? Most people will think about the swath that streaks across the map of the US, and some may even travel to be inside of that swath. This is certainly a great place to see the eclipse in its totality, but this is […]
So, where is the best place to see the April 8 solar eclipse? Most people will think about the swath that streaks across the map of the US, and some may even travel to be inside of that swath. This is certainly a great place to see the eclipse in its totality, but this is a very self-centric way of thinking. Some of the great views generated by the eclipse may not be seen from within that swath, and they may not even seen in real time by a person. How could that be?
I am looking forward to seeing the eclipse videos that are going to be recorded by orbitting satellites far above the earth. I find it fascinating to see the moons shadow streak across the US, far faster than any jet could fly.
And, astronauts onboard the ISS will get a good view of the eclipse too. They may only be able to briefly view a partial eclipse from their ISS viewing ports, but they will get to see the shadow of the moon streak across the US in real-time.
So, when you watch the eclipse on Monday, April 8, think about all the other people that are watching it at the same time, and think about the fact that some of those people may not be standing on soil like you are. Also, think about all the animals suddenly thrust into darkness, and how confused they must be. And, by all means, make sure you protect your eyes during eclipse viewing. Remember, eye protection is needed except for the time you may be viewing the eclipse in is totality.
As an early professional, right out of college and new to my first real job in 1980, I was under the impression that I would spend my entire career simply demonstrating the skills that I had learned in college. After all, you go to college to learn everything, and then you spend the next 50 […]
As an early professional, right out of college and new to my first real job in 1980, I was under the impression that I would spend my entire career simply demonstrating the skills that I had learned in college. After all, you go to college to learn everything, and then you spend the next 50 years simply using that knowledge set, right? Now retired and wiser after a career, I realize that I was very wrong. College merely gives you some basic initial building blocks and teaches you how to think, but it is up to YOU to continue your technical training, and your on-the-job training, throughout your career. College coursework is important, but it is a very small piece of your career coursework.
Ongoing lifelong learning is necessary for two reasons.
First, technology changes, and you need to stay current. ATI is positioned to keep you current with ongoing technical training. A full listing of our courses can be found at www.aticourses.com
Second, your roles and responsibilities will change over the course of your professional lifetime, and as your roles will change, your skills must change too. While many recent grads and new-hires never think about it, early professionals will eventually become leaders, bosses, and managers. Consequently, a new skill set will be required, and those skills were likely not have been taught to you in your undergraduate college program. ATI is here to help. We are offering a new course called Business Essentials for Scientists and Engineers.
This five-day course is comprised of 5 one-day modules which teach Scientist and Engineers the soft skills associated with your profession. You will learn Project Management Skills, Business Basics, and Publishing Strategies. While you may get some of this material in your on-the-job training, this course will provide the materials from noted experts in a complete and concise manner. This course is a must for people who are interested in more than just the pure technical aspects of their job.
Day 1 – Business Management for Scientists and Engineers
Day 2 – Project Management Essentials
Day 3 – Accelerating Team Performance
Day 4 – Presentation Skills, Virtual and In-Person
Day 5 – Publishing your Research
You can find additional information on this ATI course here. You will also find additional information including dates and instructor biographies for each module. You can also register for this class at this site. Registering for only particular modules is an option.
A good way to learn more about this course is to attend the upcoming one-hour free webinar where the instructors for each module will tell you more about their courses. Feel free to attend the free session, even if you are not currently planning to take the course. Perhaps we will change your mind. You can register for the free session here. While there, you can also register for the full course.
We hope you will give this exciting new opportunity a chance.
In light of the current news story about the lost submarine “Titan”, it seemed like this old ATI blog post may be of renewed interest. It is important to note that the lost submarine “Titan” is a small private submarine, and not a US Navy submarine. So, unfortunately, the rescue vessel discussed below would not […]
In light of the current news story about the lost submarine “Titan”, it seemed like this old ATI blog post may be of renewed interest. It is important to note that the lost submarine “Titan” is a small private submarine, and not a US Navy submarine. So, unfortunately, the rescue vessel discussed below would not be much help to Titan which is probably not designed to couple with the US Navy Rescue Vehicle. Additionally, if Titan lays on the bottom with the Titanic, that would be beyond the depth at which the US Navy Rescue Vehicle is designed to operate. The Rescue Command has done a lot of work on localization of downed submarines, and may be called upon to help locate “Titan.” It is good at this time to remember that there are many smart and dedicated people who have worked on, and continue to work on, rescuing submarines in distress.
So, without further introduction, the blog read as follows.
Submarine accidents which result in the submarine careening to the sea bottom are spectacular in Hollywood movies and video games, but they do not happen often in real life. In fact, for the U.S., we have not lost a submarine to the depths since 1968 when USS Scorpion was lost with 99 souls due ( most likely) to an inadvertent activation of a battery or a torpedo. Prior to that, in 1963, USS Thresher was lost with 129 souls due to ( most likely ) a piping failure during a deep dive. Due to actions taken as a result of lessons learned from those two mishaps, the U.S. has not had a major submarine loss since then. The safety record for U.S. Navy Submarines since 1968 has been remarkable, and the envy of other countries.
Yeah, but what if?
To be prudent, the U.S. must assume that there will be submarine accidents in the future, even if they are not U.S. submarines. For this reason, the U.S. continues to maintain a force dedicated to the rescue of downed submarines. Undersea Rescue Command (URC) is the U.S. Navy’s official command for the rescue of sailors during a submarine casualty anywhere in the world. If you would like to learn more about this command, you can read about it here.
The blog author has had some personal experience working with the Undersea Rescue Command, and all comments that follow are the authors personal opinions, and not an official opinion of the U.S. Navy or Applied Technology Institute. In case you missed that, please go back and read it again.
Two significant issues that confront the Undersea Rescue Command are funding and localization.
The funding issue arises from the fact that our submarines are so safe, and our safety record is so good, there is a hesitance to pay too much attention ( and funding ) to an organization which may not ever be called into service. Unfortunately, there is not much the technical community can do about that; it will have to fall upon the Public Relations Office at U.S. Navy.
Localization, however, is a problem which the technical community can help solve. When a submarine goes to the bottom, the Undersea Rescue Command jumps into action, and reports to the vicinity of the accident very quickly. Unfortunately, the Undersea Rescue Command cannot start their rescue mission until the precise location of the sunken submarine is known, and that is often a difficult problem. Until the submarine is located, the rescue can not actually begin. Often, in exercises, or in other countries, by the time the submarine is located, it has become a recovery mission rather than a rescue mission.
So, how can we simplify the task of locating a downed submarine? Some of the answer lies in the concept of operations, or things that a distressed submarine can do to facilitate the search for them. Some of the answer lies in advances in sonars and sonar signal processing. And the rest of the answer lies in innovative new ideas, for example, using AUVs or UUVs to find distressed submarines ( cool idea ). By the way, ATI offers courses in all of these areas; you can read more about those courses at www.aticourses.com.
As I said earlier, the author has had the pleasure of working with the Undersea Rescue Command several years ago, and was very impressed with the hard work and dedication exhibited by all members of their team. The following picture shows me and the rest of the JHU/APL Team that worked with the URC. We are posing inside of the Pressurized Rescue Module which travels to the distressed submarine to perform the rescue. Although no one would ever want to experience being on a submarine in distress, they should feel encouraged that a team as dedicated and qualified as URC is on the job.
We can only pray, and hope for the best for the 5 souls currently onboard “Titan”
Who is going to the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs next week? It should be a wonderful opportunity to learn and network in the Space Technology arena. Applied Technology Institute (ATI) is a known leader in Technical Training for Scientists and Engineers, and is attending the conference for two important reasons. First, we are looking […]
Who is going to the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs next week?
It should be a wonderful opportunity to learn and network in the Space Technology arena.
Applied Technology Institute (ATI) is a known leader in Technical Training for Scientists and Engineers, and is attending the conference for two important reasons.
First, we are looking for Companies who may want to start using ATI to satisfy their Technical Training needs.
Second, we are looking for individuals who may want to join the ATI team, to teach courses for us.
We will be walking around and meeting people, but we also welcome the opportunity to email with you prior to the conference, and schedule a meeting over coffee while at the conference, so we can learn a little more about each other.
Ok, I admit it. When I heard that ATI was offering a course called “Explosives Technology & Modeling”, my mind immediately went to wartime uses of Explosives for offensive operations. I thought about bombs being dropped on cities, or on buildings, and all the resulting damage and anguish. It was a fairly depressing thought. But, […]
Ok, I admit it. When I heard that ATI was offering a course called “Explosives Technology & Modeling”, my mind immediately went to wartime uses of Explosives for offensive operations. I thought about bombs being dropped on cities, or on buildings, and all the resulting damage and anguish. It was a fairly depressing thought.
But, as I was gathering my thoughts to write this blog and promote this course, I realized that I was totally dismissing other beneficial uses of explosives.
Explosives can be used for fragmentation of rock for construction work. Fragmentation of rock during quarry operations is another beneficial use for explosives. And let’s not forget how instrumental explosives can be for the safe and efficient demolition of buildings. There are many uses of explosives that go far beyond wartime destructive uses. Having said that, it is also true that they are instrumental in fighting wars too.
Explosive Technology and Modeling is a three-day course designed for scientists, engineers and managers interested in the current state of explosives and blast waves. After an introduction to combustion chemistry and shock waves, the current explosive technology is described. Computational and analytical tools are demonstrated for calculating blast wave and fragment parameters.
I am sure this course will be blast. Don’t delay in registering for this class, because it is coming up very soon in April.
To learn more about this course and register, or to see what other courses are availalbe at ATI, you can go here.
Applied Technology Institute is looking to hire short-course instructors for courses in Satellite Communications, Space, Defense, Radar, Sonar/Acoustics, Signal Processing, and Systems Engineering. ATI needs instructors for some existing courses to deepen our bench, but in other cases, our instructor is no longer available to teach, and we need to replace him/her. So, if there […]
Applied Technology Institute is looking to hire short-course instructors for courses in Satellite Communications, Space, Defense, Radar, Sonar/Acoustics, Signal Processing, and Systems Engineering.
ATI needs instructors for some existing courses to deepen our bench, but in other cases, our instructor is no longer available to teach, and we need to replace him/her. So, if there is any course in our catalog you can teach, or if there is a course you can teach which is not yet in our catalog, we want to talk to you about joining our team.
If you would like to learn more about teaching opportunities at ATI, we would be happy to send you a more detailed job description, or we would be happy to speak with you.
Please express your interest to bob@aticourses.com, or call Bob at 410-428-9919.
Anyone who reads the news knows that Ransomware attacks have become very popular among hackers, and very unpopular among victims. In a Ransomware attack, the hacker penetrates your system and encrypts all of your files. So, you still have all your data; you simply have no way to access that data. You may just as […]
Anyone who reads the news knows that Ransomware attacks have become very popular among hackers, and very unpopular among victims.
In a Ransomware attack, the hacker penetrates your system and encrypts all of your files. So, you still have all your data; you simply have no way to access that data. You may just as well not even have your data. The hacker is looking for a ransom, and will only provide the encryption key if you pay him the money he demands. As seen in graphic below from “Information is Beautiful”, these attacks slowed down in 2018 and 2019, but are once again popular in 2020 and 2021.
Unfortunately, when dealing with ransomware hackers, you run the risk that he will take your money and not provide the key. Additionally, you run the risk that he will provide a key that works, but will repenetrate your system and demand a new ransom in the future. For the sake of your business, it is best to not get attacked in this manner. That’s easy to say, but how do you do that?
Protecting against Ransomware attacks is just one of the many things you will learn at an upcoming ATI course Cybersecurity Foundations in November 2022. This three-day course provides an overview of cybersecurity principles and mechanisms and highlights the challenges of protecting computing systems from determined adversaries. The course provides an understanding of the foundational elements of information security. It also gives the student an awareness of the current threat environment and architectures, mechanisms and technologies used to contain constrain, and control adversarial actions.
Take a look at the course description here, and if it looks like a course you may be interested in, please register for the class at that same site.
And, as always, if you want to see the full set of courses offered at ATI, please visit us at www.aticourses.com.
I watched an amazing movie from 1998 last night. Saving Private Ryan was an action-packed World War 2 thriller with lots of blood and gore caused by gunfire, grenades, mortars, bombs, and countless other kinetic weapons. Many other excellent World War 2 movies, Dunkirk for example, also show a myriad of kinetic weapons and kinetic […]
I watched an amazing movie from 1998 last night. Saving Private Ryan was an action-packed World War 2 thriller with lots of blood and gore caused by gunfire, grenades, mortars, bombs, and countless other kinetic weapons. Many other excellent World War 2 movies, Dunkirk for example, also show a myriad of kinetic weapons and kinetic kills with all the associated blood and guts. During that War however, there was another form of warfare happening, but that other form of warfare does not lend itself to good memorable scenes in movies. Unlike kinetic warfare, electronic warfare is any action that uses the EM spectrum for military purposes, either to protect one’s own spectrum ( Electronic Protection), or to exploit the adversary’s spectrum (Electronic Attack.) Said another way, Electronic Attack involves exploiting the airwaves, and finding ways to electronically interfere with enemies ability to communicate with people or weapons on the battlefield. Electronic Protection involves making sure that the adversary does not have the ability to exploit the airwaves, and electronically interfere with your ability to communicate with people or weapons on the battlefield.
Electronic Warfare may result in less direct bloodshed, but it is a very powerful way of fighting that can ultimately indirectly support decisive kinetic warfare. As technology has progressed since World War 2, and as battlefield tactics have changed over time too, Electronic Warfare has become, and will continue to become an even more effective and important force multiplier. And, Hollywood has noticed. Many more modern movies that depict more current wars now focus more on the technology that supports the firepower. Having said that, Hollywood still recognizes the importance of good old-fashioned blood and gore, so they have not abandoned those scenes altogether.
Since Electronic Protection and Electronic Attack are becoming more important, you may want to consider taking the upcoming ATI course on this subject. You can learn more about this course, and register to attend at
There are so many applications of Acoustics in every day life. In fact, scientists are coming up with new applications every day. Many people think of the most popular applications of Acoustics like Ranging and Imaging. If you think the only applications of Acoustics are Sonar and Ultra Sound Imaging, you would be so wrong. […]
There are so many applications of Acoustics in every day life. In fact, scientists are coming up with new applications every day. Many people think of the most popular applications of Acoustics like Ranging and Imaging. If you think the only applications of Acoustics are Sonar and Ultra Sound Imaging, you would be so wrong.
For example, China has discovered that they can use Acoustics to help them deal with the effects of Global Warming. In order to increase their water supply during drought periods, China has discovered that by aiming low frequency sound waves at clouds, they can stimulate that cloud into dropping rainfall when it otherwise would not have done so.
As another example, China has also discovered a more efficient way to limit the number of plastic fibers that get come out of washing machines and get released into the drain. This was required because conventional filters on washing machines do not catch the tiny fibers that can be so destructive to the marine ecosystem. By using Acoustic filters that produce a type of forcefield in the water, all the fibers can be collected.
Going forward, finding new and important applications for Acoustics is ripe for technical innovation.
To learn more about applications of Acoustics, consider taking the upcoming ATI course Acoustic Fundamentals, Measurements, and Applications.
This four-day course is intended for engineers and other technical personnel and managers who have a work-related need to understand basic acoustics concepts and how to measure and analyze sound. This is an introductory course and participants need not have any prior knowledge of sound or vibration. Each topic is illustrated by relevant applications, in-class demonstrations, and worked-out numerical examples. The instructor for this course reaches out to all registered students prior to the class to learn about their interests so he can tailor the course to meet their needs. The upcoming offering of this course is Guaranteed-To-Run.
You can learn more about this course, and register to attend at
ATI is pleased to announce a new series of free virtual short courses starting in January 2021, led by industry leaders and some of your favorite instructors. These 1-hour sessions, from 12:30pm to 1:30pm ET, will be delivered live and you will have an opportunity to ask the instructors questions at the end of the […]
ATI is pleased to announce a new series of free virtual short courses starting in January 2021, led by industry leaders and some of your favorite instructors. These 1-hour sessions, from 12:30pm to 1:30pm ET, will be delivered live and you will have an opportunity to ask the instructors questions at the end of the session. Each short session includes an important take way from one of our full courses that can be implemented on your project. Keep visiting aticourses.com as we schedule more.
January 8th
CSEP preparation – January 8, 2021 – FREE short session – Virtual Live Webinar
With the network news overflowing with stories from around the world regarding the Corona-virus (COVID-19) Applied Technology Institute is concerned for its students and instructors. From the CDC briefing February 26, 2020 “Ultimately, we expect we will see community spread in this country. It’s not so much a question of if this will happen anymore […]
With the network news overflowing with stories from around
the world regarding the Corona-virus (COVID-19) Applied Technology Institute is
concerned for its students and instructors. From the CDC briefing February 26,
2020 “Ultimately, we expect we will see community spread in this
country. It’s not so much a question of
if this will happen anymore but rather more a question of exactly when this
will happen”
The Prime Minister of Japan has just ordered all schools closed for a month starting March 2nd, schools in Italy are also closed for an undetermined amount of time, other countries are also looking at following these recommendations. Airlines and hotels are changing cancellation policy’s and cruise ships are being blocked from docking at ports around the world. We are also seeing quarantines.
With many students who travel from around the US and other countries to attend our training and education courses, ATI understands that this whole situation can be overwhelming and that disruptions will occur. And that’s why we are putting in place simple solutions so that you can still get the training that you want and need.
We have been meeting and working to go over what ATI courses would look like if travel is suspended and students and our instructors cannot travel to the course locations. We are ready to continue to offer the best training in the industry on a platform where courses will be held as a webinar so that students and instructors can still participate.
ATI’s commitment to training and education within the space industry has years and years of history, making sure that the courses we offer are done with the best instructors in the industry and the topics are what hot in the industry now! We continue that commitment even when things around us get a bit crazy. Please visit our web site and register, knowing that ATI is there for you.
CBS and many other news outlets and technical publications reported that two neutron stars, one exceeding the mass of the sun by 1.6 times, collided with a smaller, but a still, significant star, collided “producing a so-called “kilonova” explosion that seeded the local environment with a flood of heavy elements ranging from gold and platinum to uranium and beyond, […]
In an article published by The National interest in Oct. 2017, Dave Majumdar cites that, “As rival powers rise to challenge the United States, the Pentagon is faced with the problem of how to face down a spectrum of challenges that range from nuclear deterrence to high-end conventional wars to the low-end counterinsurgency fights.” How will […]
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan Kluck, Commander of the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment (1–68 Armor), 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team (3rd ABCT), 4th Infantry Division (4th ID), prepares to dismount his M1A2 Abrams tank after a Combined Arms Live Fire at the 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, July 31, 2017. (U.S. Army photo by Visual Information Specialist Gertrud Zach)
In an article published by The National interest in Oct. 2017, Dave Majumdar cites that, “As rival powers rise to challenge the United States, the Pentagon is faced with the problem of how to face down a spectrum of challenges that range from nuclear deterrence to high-end conventional wars to the low-end counterinsurgency fights.” How will the Pentagon address all three at the same time? Secretary of Defense, John Mattis, defines it as the Pentagon;s “Problem Statement.” Speaking to an audience at the Association of the U.S. Army Exposition on Oct. 9th, Mattis indicated that “the Defense Department is taking a three-pronged approach to the problem.”
To read more about this approach, visit: http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/the-us-military-needs-be-ready-wage-3-very-different-types-22666
The Applied Technology Institute (ATI Courses) offers many short courses on the topics of Radar, Missiles, and Defense, including the following upcoming open enrollments:
