Tom O'Brien of IEEE Life Member-San Antonio

The Yagi-Uda antenna was invented in the 1920s, in Japan.  In the 90-plus years since then, it has gone from a most-secret component to a common catalog item.  Its design formulae are complex, but its operation is simple to explain.  This talk will attempt to give that simple explanation with minimal hand-waving.  In addition to the theory of operation, the talk will give some history that may surprise you.

Biography:

Tom O'Brien has had a varied engineering career, starting with a stint at Vought in Dallas, doing flight control systems engineering.  His work shifted, with the volatile job market, into computer systems analysis and engineering, at University Computing, Trans World Airlines, Tres Computer Systems, and IBM Federal Systems.  At IBM, he worked in Space Shuttle avionics, including the software for the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System.  Later work in computer systems took him to Shell Services in Houston, and then back to aerospace with United Space Alliance.  He retired from USA after another robotics project involving the International Space Station.  After retirement, Tom and Susanne moved to San Antonio, where they have been involved in family and volunteer activities, including Tom's work with IEEE Central Texas Section.  Tom holds a BSEE from Texas A&M and an MS(Telecom) from SMU.  He is a Life Member of IEEE, and a Registered Professional Engineer (EE) in Texas.  Tom has been licensed as an amateur radio operator since 1958, and currently holds Extra Class license as AB5XZ.

Email:

Address:San Antonio, TX

2020 Life Member-Austin Officer Slate

Kai Wong              – Chairman
Tom Grim              – Vice Chair
Bill Martino           – Treasurer
Clyde Springen     – Secretary
Kai Wong              – Program Manager (acting)
John Purvis          -- Web Master

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