For my project, I worked with a Spectrum Analyzer made by the company ThinkRF. They are a small company based in Canada and they are growing bigger because of a device they made called the WSA5000. Their product has really great capabilities that are better than many of the other bigger companies and they are selling it for a fraction of the cost. Normally a spectrum analyzer would put you down fifty to a hundred thousand dollars, depending on which one you buy, but this one ranges from three thousand to ten thousand. This device has open source coding in C/C++, Matlab, and PyRF. PyRF is there own variation of the Python coding language. For my project we used the C/C++ API Libraries. My job was to create a functioning library (.lib file) for this machine so we could take advantage of the many functions that ThinkRF had provided us. A library is basically a collection of Object files (.obj). An object file is made up of multiple Header (.h) and Include (.c or .cpp) files. We combine all of these together into a library so the computer can see all of these files together and then can easily reference them throughout the code. This was a very good challenge for me because I had done a few projects with Python but this was my first experience with coding in C/C++. After a few days of learning the language, I dove in and attempted to make a working static library. With the help of the online coding community of Stackoverflow's website, I was able to create a .lib file. The only problem was that I could not get the code to call a function from the library. I then contacted customer ThinkRF's customer support to fix the errors that were discovered. The reason we need a library so bad was because ThinkRF included a library in their C API's but it was designed for the Linux operating system, we were using windows 7. So after talking with customer support, we learned how to take advantage of the Linux library they included for us. In the settings of Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Express, there are ways to treat the included .a file as if it where a .lib file. I was excited when I thought that my code would finally start working until I soon discovered yet another error. With the help of ThinkRF and one of the Computer Engineers here at SPAWAR, we took an example function they gave us and tested it on the library we had, and it worked! It was really exciting when our code worked, because we can now actually use this machine whenever we need to. It also allows us the ability to create custom applications with their API Libraries. A wise man once said "There are only two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works." This was a quote that was displayed in my classroom when I first started programming. At first I thought it was a funny joke and did not think much about it, but I truly understand what it means. There is never an easy way around a tough challenge. You have to discover and learn along the way to be successful in the end. If you want something to be done, you have to find a way and go do it.
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1. Being dedicated to my work even if I may not agree to the method of doing it. Sunil has showed me that things are not always easy or the best way to be done, but still to stick to it and finish it how it is needed to be done. 2. I feel I did not have a good grasp on what I would be doing after high school, but now I have learned exactly what I want to do when I saw my colleagues and what they have done. I have learned experience is golden. 3. With this internship I know now that I want to work in computer programming. I may not want to do exactly what my colleagues do but I do want to be in a similar field.
1. Problem solving, communication, and experience with Python. These skills have helped me out the most because I have been faced with problems where no end seemed to be in sight but with help, I managed to make it to the end. 2. The work I am doing has helped me learn a lot in problem solving. I thought I was pretty good at overcoming obstacles, but this internship has given me insight on new ways to be more efficient and productive. 3. My project was slightly changed due to my mentor having to leave on travel during my internship, but it has turned from a fun activity into a huge challenge. Yes I talked with a computer engineer here whose name is Adrian. He has been very helpful in teaching me how to use C/C++ and problem solve. His job here is to do what ever needs to be done for the other guys in the office. If someone doesn't know how to do something, he figures it out and does it.
I know I want to try and come back here for a summer internship. Also working with this company has me realize what it is really like to actually code. I do want to go to a school that has Computer Science or Computer Programming as a major so I can use that and apply it to many different jobs I could have.
My project changed because my mentor had to go on travel for a week during my internship.
As of right now, I am learning how to code in C/C++ so I can work with interfacing to a radio frequency device that we obtained from a company called ThinkRF. I need to learn how to code in C/C++ and have better problem solving skills. I need support fro my mentor and anyone else who is familiar with coding. As well as customer support from ThinkRF Mentor: Sunil Ramlall
Q: What can I do to be fully ready for what this internship has to offer. A: Be actively engaged in the work that you are doing. Q: What is your job title? A: Electrical Engineer Q: What are your main duties and responsibilities? A: As of right now, I am hard-coding something for a project that I am in charge of. (Classified) Q: Why did you chose to work here? A: Gave me a chance to do work in my field. Q: What skills or training are required for your position. A: Communication, Coding and good at math. Q: What is the purpose of this organization? A: It is sort of a research and development for the Navy During my internship, I have been coding like I was doing in school with Python. This is a little bit more difficult and it is in a language I do not quite know yet. But is is good to have previous coding knowledge so I know what it takes to solve problems I encounter. I have learned some more basics and advanced things in C/C++ over the past few weeks. It is more complicated than Python but it has a lot more capabilities. My Internship is in Point Loma and I am not that close to it so I normally wake up at 6:30 to get there in time. My mentor will not be here next week so I will not be able to work. This is good and bad because I get to stay and work from home but I am working less than I normally would to fill my required hours.
who work at the office I am in and most of the time not everyone is there. 2. They are very active in achieving their goals. They all focus on the work that needs to be done. 3. It is a slightly different field than I was hoping to get into but still a great learning opportunity. 4. I am excited to learn what I am going to be doing. 5. Accidentally crossing a line I didn’t know about. After a long list of emails and conversations, I was informed to day that I had been chosen to be an intern at SPAWAR. I am really looking forward to this opportunity because this was the internship i was trying to get from the beginning. I will be working with Sunil Ramlall, I have been talking with him and I am glad to be working with him. The specifics of what I will be doing during my internship are unclear right now and I am unsure if I have the permission to talk about it yet so that may be a good thing. Working with SPAWAR is a really great opportunity for me because it is in the same field I am trying to get a career in. I am a little concerned because this is a Government facility and I do not want to accidentally do something that is over the line. Overall, I am really looking forward to this amazing opportunity.
So far, the months of looking for an internship have lead me right here, still looking for an internship. I have been emailing and calling different companies as well as signing up for different internship websites but I have not found anything. Many companies that are doing internships in my field are very interested in hiring college interns instead of high school interns. I have talked with Lisa Davis (our internship coordinator) about a few possible internships but we have found nothing yet. As of right now, I am going to talk more with Lisa and other teachers around the school to see if they know anyone I could contact for an internship. I am also going to follow up with 3D Robotics, which was recommended to me by Ms. Mackenzie and it seems like a good internship and I hope I can be able to talk with them.
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AuthorI am a Junior at High Tech High Chula Vista currently doing an internship at SPAWAR. Archives
June 2015
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