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DARPA Bay Area SDR Hackfest

The Bay Area SDR Hackfest will take place on November 13–17, 2017, at the NASA Ames Conference Center.

Reading (and viewing) Rack

I, Robot
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Neuromancer
The Shockwave Rider
The Left Hand of Darkness
Contact
Star Trek Beyond
Rogue One
Dream Park
Dollhouse
Ancillary Justice
Blade Runner 2049
Norse Mythology

Other mentioned media

Walkaway
Little Brother
Back to the Future II
2001 A Space Odyssey
Hackers

Heather Kirksey

Vice President of NFV, The Linux Foundation

a photograph of Heather Kirksey
Abstract

As OPNFV Director, Heather Kirksey works with the community to advance the adoption and implementation of open source NFV platform. She oversees and provides guidance for all aspects of the project, from technology to community and marketing and reports to OPNFV board of directors. Before Joining the Linux Foundation, Kirksey led strategic technology alliances for MongoDB. Earlier in her career she held various leadership positions in the telecom industry including running a partner program for CPE, doing solutions marketing for the IP Division at Alcatel-Lucent, business development, and participating in numerous standards activities. She received her master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Texas, Austin.

NASA Ames Research Center

a site map of the NASA Ames Research Center showing main gate and event parking areas

YeS DR
a logo graphic for the DARPA SDR Hackfest team named YeSDR.
The eight-member YeS DR team brings together the combined forces of hobbyists and career SDR enthusiasts who work together at Parsons, a professional services company focused on infrastructure, defense, security, and construction. The team is comprised of engineers with diverse educational backgrounds, professional expertise, and interests. At the Hackfest, the team will bring a range of skillsets, among them reverse engineering and vulnerability research, embedded systems design and implementation, unmanned aerial system integration, digital signal processing, and Software Defined Radio (SDR) implementation.

Dedicated to solving challenging problems, the group looks forward to finding creative and effective solutions to address the Hackfest Missions. YeS DR members believe SDR is still in its infancy and wants to push the technology forward along with its applications… and, of course, fly some drones.

Texas Radio Terminator (TRT)
a logo graphic for the DARPA SDR Hackfest team named Texas Radio Terminator (TRT). The logo displays black sunglasses on the left side with a galloping red horse over one lens and the name of the team on the right side.

The Texas Radio Terminator (TRT) team was formed on the Southern Methodist University in Taos campus and is comprised of graduate and undergraduate students from the university’s electrical engineering and computer science and engineering programs. Led by Professor Joseph Camp, the team brings a diverse background in drone flight control and related software, Software Defined Radio (SDR) design, and 3D printing.

TRT members first met during an EE/CSE course, “Measurement Study Design with Phones and Drones,” led by Professor Camp. Although the group has only officially been working together since June 2017, they have a wealth of experiences to draw on from their collective efforts to secure an SDR platform running on a quadcopter. The team is engaged and extremely motivated by the challenges presented by the DARPA SDR Hackfest.

Team Platypus Aerospace
a logo graphic for the DARPA SDR Hackfest team named Team Platypus Aerospace. The logo depicts a platypus head illustration with the word Aerospace above it.
Team Platypus Aerospace is comprised of 10 team members from the Aerospace Corporation who have been developing and demonstrating unique solutions for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter UAS (CUAS) to meet challenges from defense, civil law enforcement, and private commercial entities. The group has decades of combined expertise in mixed-signal processing, Software Defined Radio (SDR) development, reconfigurable hardware development, and UAS operations. No novices to drone competitions, one team member regularly participated in drone “battle royales” in the Mojave Desert.
Team Platypus Aerospace views challenges like the DARPA SDR Hackfest as an opportunity to expand into new domains while building on existing R&D efforts in the field. They look forward to participating in this exciting event.
DROGON
a logo graphic for the DARPA SDR Hackfest team named DROGON.
The DROGON team is comprised of members from Raytheon BBN Technologies and SSCI with a mutual interest, according to one team member, in “hacking stuff, making things happen, and building prototypes.” The six-person team brings combined expertise in UAV flying, wireless networking, system and test engineering, and Software Defined Radio (SDR) design and implementation. The group’s mentor, Tony Michel, has been with BBN for 48 years and is arguably the most senior Internet engineer in the world.
DROGON has a long history of working with DARPA and other government entities, and has participated in previous DARPA-run challenges. Team members embrace the SDR vision presented by the DARPA SDR Hackfest and agree that there is growing potential for the technology’s use in practical settings. As experts and enthusiasts in SDR, the DROGONers are excited about the opportunity to apply their skills and experience to the Hackfest Missions.
Hacker Dojo Fly-by-SDR Team
a logo graphic for the DARPA SDR Hackfest team named Hacker Dojo Fly-by-SDR Team
The Hacker DoJo Fly-by-SDR Team was formed at the Hacker Dojo, a non-profit community of hackers and start-ups in Silicon Valley that played host to one of the DARPA SDR Hackfest roadshow events. From the beginning, the team invited collaboration from like-minded hackers and developers across the U.S. The 10-person team is comprised of a diverse group of experts with a range of capabilities, including ham radio, signal processing, embedded systems, video, information theory, coding theory and cryptography, networking, robotics, civil aviation, and small unmanned aerial systems.
One thing that sets the Hacker DoJo Fly-by-SDR Team apart is that it is an open group with open meetings. This has allowed the team to continue to grow in technical strength and breadth of expertise while building on the wisdom of early team members with specific background in the UAV and SDR problem space.
Fat Cat Flyers
The Fat Cat Flyers team was formed at Fat Cat Fab Lab, a makerspace in the West Village of New York City that offers workshops, classes, and events on digital and traditional fabrication. The team is comprised of four members of the Lab who have worked on various projects at the makerspace. Self-described as “a group of guys that like working on cool projects,” the team brings to the DARPA SDR Hackfest a broad range of skillsets and expertise including work with drones, rockets, audio processing, digital signal processing, and amateur radio. Two members of the team are also private pilots.
DeepEdge
a logo graphic for the DARPA SDR Hackfest team named DeepEdge.
The DeepEdge team was formed from the collaboration of two research groups based out of the University of California, Irvine and the University of Southern California. The six-person team brings a broad range of backgrounds and expertise in Software Defined Radios (SDR), network and protocol design and optimization, and distributed control and data processing to the DARPA SDR Hackfest.
The UCI and USC research groups that form DeepEdge generate innovative ideas in a wide spectrum of areas, and have experience implementing them in the real world. It’s this hands-on experience that DeepEdge believes will set them apart from other participants. The team is thrilled by the opportunity to share ideas and expertise across communities and is looking forward to an exciting event.
Adversarial Science Laboratory
a logo graphic for the DARPA SDR Hackfest team named Adversarial Science Laboratory.
Adversarial Science Laboratory (ASL) is a group formed primarily of team members from Assured Information Security (AIS) and Rearden Logic, Inc. The ASL team was originally established to compete in the first Wi-Fi Shootout at DefCon XI in 2003, securing the top position in the contest by successfully transmitting a Wi-Fi signal over 35 miles. The five-person team brings significant experience with UAVs to the Hackfest, including a focus on offensive assessment of command and control channels used for autonomous and semi-autonomous operation.
Since 2003, ASL has been competing in hackfests, capture-the-flag events, and other challenges internal and external to the cyber domain. The team looks forward to the opportunity to apply and expand its expertise in identifying and creating failures of communications channels into developing communications technologies that offer resilience in challenging environments.
Pierre de Vries

Executive Fellow and Co-director of the Spectrum Policy Initiative, Silicon Flatirons Center

a photograph of Pierre de Vries
Abstract

Pierre de Vries is an Executive Fellow and Co-director of the Spectrum Policy Initiative at Silicon Flatirons. His current work focuses on maximizing the value of radio operation by managing potential and actual interference better, both before and after rulemaking. He is also Visiting Senior Scientist at the Institute for Networked Systems of RWTH Aachen University. He was a Technology Advisor to Harris Wiltshire & Grannis LLP, Washington DC (2007–2010), and Senior Fellow at the Annenberg Center for Communication of the University of Southern California (2006–2007). Prior to these engagements, he held various positions at Microsoft including Chief of Incubation and Senior Director of Advanced Technology and Policy. He holds a B.Sc. (Honours) from Stellenbosch University and a D.Phil. in theoretical physics from the University of Oxford.

Amie Stepanovich

U.S. Policy Manager, Access Now

a photograph of Amie Stepanovich
Abstract
Slides

Amie Stepanovich works to ensure that laws and policies on surveillance and cybersecurity recognize and respect human rights. At Access Now, Amie manages and develops the organization’s U.S. policy and leads global projects at the intersection of human rights and government surveillance. Previously, Amie was the Director of the Domestic Surveillance Project at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, where she testified in hearings in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as in State legislatures. Amie is a board member of the Internet Education Foundation. She was a liaison to the American Bar Association’s Cybersecurity Working Group and co-chaired the 2014 Computers, Freedom, and Privacy Conference. Amie was named as a Privacy Ambassador by the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, Canada, and was recognized in 2014 as one of Forbes magazine’s 30 under-30 leaders in Law and Policy. She has a J.D. degree from New York Law School, and a B.S. from the Florida State University.

Linda Doyle

Director of CONNECT, Professor of Engineering and the Arts, Trinity College Dublin

a photograph of Linda Doyle
Abstract

Linda Doyle is the Director of CONNECT and Professor of Engineering and the Arts in Trinity College, University of Dublin, Ireland. CONNECT is a national research center focused on future networks and communications and is co-funded by Science Foundation Ireland and industry. CONNECT is headquartered in Trinity College and includes more than ten different academic institutions in Ireland. Doyle’s expertise is in the fields of wireless communications, cognitive radio, reconfigurable networks, spectrum management and creative arts practices. She has raised over 80 million euros in research funding in the past decade and has published widely in her field. Prof. Doyle has a reputation as an advocate for change in spectrum management practices and has played a role in spectrum policy at the national and international levels. Currently she is a member of the National Broadband Steering Committee in Ireland, and is a member of the Ofcom Spectrum Advisory Board in the UK. Prof. Doyle is on the advisory board of Wireless@KTH in Sweden. She is a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin. She is on the Board of the Festival of Curiosity—an annual STEM outreach activity for children based in Dublin City Centre. She is a judge in the BT Young Scientist, Ireland’s premier science competition for schoolchildren. And she is on the Boards of the Douglas Hyde Gallery and Pallas Studios.

Joe Grand

Principal Engineer, Grand Idea Studio, Inc.

a photograph of Joe Grand
Abstract
Slides

Joe Grand is a product designer, hardware hacker, and the founder of Grand Idea Studio. He specializes in the invention and design of electronic devices. Formerly known as Kingpin, Joe was a member of the legendary hacker group L0pht Heavy Industries. He has spent over a decade discovering security flaws in embedded systems and teaching how to reverse engineer such systems. Joe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from Boston University and a Doctorate of Science in Technology (Honorary) degree from the University of Advancing Technology.

Parimal Kopardekar

Senior Technologist for Air Transportation System and Principal Investigator, Unmanned Aerial Systems Traffic Management (UTM), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

a photograph of Parimal Kopardekar
Abstract
Slides

Parimal Kopardekar (PK) serves as NASA’s Senior Technologist for Air Transportation System where he develops concepts and technologies to increase efficiency of current operations and to enable future airspace operations. He also serves as the Principal Investigator for UAS Traffic Management (UTM) to safely enable large-scale UAS operations in the low-altitude airspace.

He managed the Safe Autonomous System Operations project, which is focused on autonomy/autonomicity in civil aviation, as part of the Airspace Operations and Safety Program. The project’s goal is to develop gate-to-gate concepts and technologies aimed at improving aircraft and airspace efficiency, capacity, mobility, and throughput, while reducing delays and enhancing overall airspace operations productivity.

He is the recipient of numerous awards: NASA Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Ames Honors Award for Project Management, NASA Ames Engineer of the Year, and AIAA Distinguished Service Recognition Award. He has published more than 40 articles, including two that were honored with best paper awards by their respective venues.

Kopardekar holds doctoral and master’s degrees in Industrial Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Production Engineering. He also serves as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Aerospace Operations.

Samy Kamkar

Security Researcher

a photograph of Samy Kamkar
Abstract
Samy Kamkar is an independent security researcher best known for creating The MySpace worm, the fastest spreading virus of all time. His open source software, hardware, and research highlights the insecurities and privacy implications in everyday technologies, from the Evercookie which produces virtually immutable respawning cookies, to SkyJack, a drone that wirelessly hijacks and autonomously controls other drones. His work has been cited by the NSA, triggered hearings on Capitol Hill, and has been the basis for security advancements across virtually all major web browsers, smartphones, and other technologies.
Ben Hilburn

Project Lead and President, The GNU Radio Foundation

a photograph of Ben Hilburn
Abstract
Slides

Ben Hilburn runs the GNU Radio project, serving as the Project Lead and President of The GNU Radio Foundation. He is also the Director of Engineering at DeepSig Inc., where he works on machine learning applied to signal processing and radio. He received his B.S. degree from Virginia Tech in Computer Engineering, with minors in Mathematics and Computer Science, and then went on to become the first Hume Fellow at the Hume Center for National Security and Technology. His graduate work focused on software architectures for software radio and heterogeneous processing.

Cory Doctorow

Author

a photograph of Cory Doctorow
Abstract

Cory Doctorow (craphound.com) is a science fiction novelist, blogger, and technology activist. He is the co-editor of the popular weblog Boing Boing (boingboing.net), and a contributor to many magazines, websites and newspapers. He is a special consultant to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (eff.org), a non-profit civil liberties group that defends freedom in technology law, policy, standards, and treaties. He holds an honorary doctorate in computer science from the Open University (UK), where he is a Visiting Professor; he is also a MIT Media Lab Research Affiliate. In 2007, he served as the Fulbright Chair at the Annenberg Center for Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California.

His novels have been translated into dozens of languages. He has won the Locus, Prometheus, Copper Cylinder, White Pine and Sunburst Awards, and has been nominated for the Hugo, Nebula and British Science Fiction Awards.

His three latest books are Walkaway, a novel for adults (2017); In Real Life, a young adult graphic novel created with Jen Wang (2014); and Information Doesn’t Want to Be Free, a business book about creativity in the Internet age (2014).

Doctorow co-founded the open source, peer-to-peer software company OpenCola, and serves on the boards and advisory boards of the Participatory Culture Foundation, the Clarion Foundation, the Open Technology Fund, and the Metabrainz Foundation.

Chris Anderson

Founder, CEO, and Author in Berkeley, California

a photograph of Chris Anderson
Abstract
Slides

Chris Anderson is CEO of 3DR, founder and chairman of the Linux Foundation’s Dronecode Project, and founder of the DIY Drones and DIY Robocars communities, including the ArduPilot autopilot project. From 2001 through 2012, he was the Editor in Chief of Wired Magazine, which in 2009 was named Magazine of the Decade by AdWeek. Before Wired, he was with The Economist for seven years in London, Hong Kong, and New York.

Chris is the author of the New York Times bestselling books The Long Tail and Free as well as Makers: The New Industrial Revolution.

In 2005, he was named Editor of the Year by Ad Age. In 2007, Time Magazine included him among the newsmagazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. That same year, he won the Loeb Award for Business Book of the Year. In 2013, he was listed among Time Magazine’s Tech 40—The Most Influential Minds In Technology. That same year, he was listed in Foreign Policy Magazine’s Top 100 Global Thinkers.

Anderson founded GeekDad, BookTour, and a few other companies now lost in the mists of time. His background is in science, starting with studying computational physics and doing research at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He put that experience to good use when he worked as a journalist at the two leading scientific journals, Nature and Science, before taking the helm at WIRED magazine for nearly a dozen years.