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After graduating with a B.S. in electrical and computer engineering, Brandon Cochenour ’03 went on to graduate from Johns Hopkins University with an M.S. in electrical and computer engineering. Cochenour currently works for the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in the Department of the Navy. NAVAIR performs the research, development, testing, and evaluation for anything that the Navy sends into the air. This summer, electrical and computer engineering major Dennis Waldron ’10 (Owings, Md.) completed an internship with Cochenour at NAVAIR. The following is a first-person article by Cochenour.
Electrical and computer engineering major Dennis Waldron ’10 recently completed an internship at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Patuxent River, Md.
Dennis worked in a research group that combines lasers and microwaves for imaging and communications in turbid media, such as sea water, clouds, fog, or tissue. Specifically, Dennis focused on the underwater laser communications application, which has recently become a high interest technology in both military and scientific communities. Because radio frequencies (like the ones that cell phones and other wireless devices use) don’t propagate well underwater, researchers have turned to using light (for example, lasers) to transmit the data wirelessly.
Dennis was tasked with creating a “proof-of-concept” link that researchers could use to show the potential applications of the technology. He developed custom software to implement the protocol necessary to transmit digital audio signals.
After characterizing the hardware necessary for creating an optical link, he created an underwater communications channel through a large test tank in the NAVAIR labs. Along the way he gained hands-on experience with electro-optical modulators, photo-receivers, and the fundamentals of digital communications.
I was most impressed with Dennis’ ability to pick up on electrical engineering concepts that, as a freshman, he hadn’t been introduced to yet, especially since our research encompasses a broad range of electrical and computer engineering areas.
At the end of the summer, Dennis gave a presentation on his work to both his fellow interns and NAVAIR scientists and engineers. Dennis not only gave an outstanding presentation, but was able to explain and communicate his work clearly to an audience that ranged from high school students to those with Ph.D.’s in physics or engineering. After his talk, he fielded a large amount of questions and a number of colleagues commented to me on how well he had handled them.
Dennis will continue similar work this coming year with William Jemison ’85, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, using advanced software to model solid-state lasers. Dennis’ experiences this summer have laid the groundwork for further collaboration between NAVAIR researchers and the ECE department, both for Dennis and hopefully other students.