https://ronpicard.com/ Interactive web apps and games, a free software engineering lesson series, AI and formal methods research, and flying logs from pilot and engineer Ron Picard. en-us Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://ronpicard.com/blog/flight-simulator/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/flight-simulator/ Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT Flight Simulator puts you in the left seat of a Cessna 172SP Skyhawk, lined up on runway 31 at New York LaGuardia with the engine running. The 3D steam-gauge… https://ronpicard.com/blog/mustang-showroom/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/mustang-showroom/ Sat, 26 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Mustang Showroom is a 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 SportsRoof, in the style of the John Wick film car, on a turntable in a dark polished showroom: physically bas… https://ronpicard.com/blog/blackjack-royale/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/blackjack-royale/ Sat, 26 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Blackjack Royale is a 3D blackjack table on a dim casino floor: a felt half-moon table with a padded rail, a card shoe and discard tray, and a chip tray alon… https://ronpicard.com/blog/slots-royale/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/slots-royale/ Sat, 26 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Slots Royale is a 3D five-reel, twenty-line slot machine on a casino floor: a black lacquered cabinet with a gold bezel and glass reel window, a backlit marq… https://ronpicard.com/blog/roulette-royale/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/roulette-royale/ Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Roulette Royale is a 3D European roulette table on a dim casino floor: a lacquered mahogany wheel with a brass turret, chrome frets and diamonds, and an ivor… https://ronpicard.com/blog/domino-topple/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/domino-topple/ Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Domino Topple is a 3D chain-reaction puzzle set on tabletops in three furnished rooms: a study with a desk lamp and bookshelf, a garage workshop with a pegbo… https://ronpicard.com/blog/neon-pinball/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/neon-pinball/ Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Neon Pinball is a 3D pinball machine in retro arcade neon: a full cabinet with a lacquered playfield, a steel ball, lamps under the glass, and a dot-matrix s… https://ronpicard.com/blog/marble-tilt/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/marble-tilt/ Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Marble Tilt is a 3D wooden labyrinth you tilt to roll a steel marble past the pits and into the cup. Steer with your mouse, the arrow keys, a touch drag, or… https://ronpicard.com/blog/orbit-golf/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/orbit-golf/ Sat, 19 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Orbit Golf is 18 holes of 3D mini-golf in space. A green alien golfer putts along walled neon courses that bend, zigzag, and spiral while real Newtonian grav… https://ronpicard.com/blog/fish-tank-simulator/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/fish-tank-simulator/ Sat, 12 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT Pelagic brings a small saltwater reef to the browser: nine distinct fish species, a cleaner shrimp, snail, hermit crab, and starfish inside a glass aquarium.… https://ronpicard.com/blog/pool-rooms/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/pool-rooms/ Sat, 12 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT First-person browser exploration through a connected pool complex: sunlit arcades, rain halls, sunken baths, a golden slide, floating beach balls, and a Sky… https://ronpicard.com/blog/the-infinite-library/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/the-infinite-library/ Mon, 17 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMT Browser first-person exploration inspired by Borges' infinite library: procedural hexagonal galleries, marked clue books, a five-step compass quest to the Cr… https://ronpicard.com/blog/periodic-table-element-visualizer/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/periodic-table-element-visualizer/ Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT Interactive periodic table with 3D Bohr-style atom models: click any element to explore protons, neutrons, electrons, shell configuration, and element facts… https://ronpicard.com/blog/ai-rulebook-always-on-rules-for-ai-coding-agents/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/ai-rulebook-always-on-rules-for-ai-coding-agents/ Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT AI Rulebook is a free VS Code and Open VSX extension from Wyvern Systems LLC that installs six always-on engineering rules for AI coding agents (scope, code… https://ronpicard.com/blog/clamav-control/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/clamav-control/ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT Desktop Tauri 2 + Rust app with a local React dashboard for ClamAV: virus definitions, scanner daemon control, optional real-time folder monitoring, scans wi… https://ronpicard.com/blog/auto-color-a-distinct-color-for-every-vs-code-workspace/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/auto-color-a-distinct-color-for-every-vs-code-workspace/ Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT Auto Color is a free VS Code and Open VSX extension from Wyvern Systems LLC that gives every workspace its own golden-ratio color: pastel title, activity, an… https://ronpicard.com/blog/back-rooms/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/back-rooms/ Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT Browser first-person Backrooms-style horror: dim yellow office liminal space, desks and fog, on-screen objective to find the exit, settings via Esc. Three.js… https://ronpicard.com/blog/daily-tech-brief/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/daily-tech-brief/ Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT Dark-mode news dashboard with multi-timezone clocks, category feeds (tech, economy, politics, and more), local weather, and outbound read links. https://ronpicard.com/blog/artemis-ii-mission-tracker/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/artemis-ii-mission-tracker/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT Fan-built mission-control-style dashboard for Artemis II with a 3D Earth-Moon trajectory, telemetry, mission-time replay, and a NASA news feed. https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-25-cursor-and-claude-agentic-coding-workflow/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-25-cursor-and-claude-agentic-coding-workflow/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 25: Cursor and Claude — agentic programming with Cursor and Claude: workflow, tools, and building software with LLM-assisted coding. https://ronpicard.com/blog/rebuilding-my-portfolio-with-cursor-and-claude-from-squarespace-to-react/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/rebuilding-my-portfolio-with-cursor-and-claude-from-squarespace-to-react/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT Rebuilding ronpicard.com in Cursor with multiple models enabled (Premium, Composer 2 Fast, GPT-5.3 Codex, GPT-5.4, Sonnet 4.6, Opus 4.6) and auto-selected by… https://ronpicard.com/blog/the-quest-for-artificial-general-intelligence-why-the-answer-may-lie-in-the-human-brain/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/the-quest-for-artificial-general-intelligence-why-the-answer-may-lie-in-the-human-brain/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT A 2026-oriented tour from symbolic AI and deep learning to agentic assistants, then a brain-vs.-silicon comparison (software, hardware, neuroscience, conscio… https://ronpicard.com/blog/slime-soccer-remake/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/slime-soccer-remake/ Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT A browser remake of the classic two-slime soccer game with canvas physics, keyboard controls, one- or two-player modes, and several gameplay variations. https://ronpicard.com/blog/encryption-explorer/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/encryption-explorer/ Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT Interactive walkthrough of classical and modern ciphers, from Caesar to AES, RSA, and post-quantum ideas, with visuals, editable sample code, and a 3D invent… https://ronpicard.com/blog/escape-the-matrix-game/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/escape-the-matrix-game/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMT A 3D first-person, Matrix-themed escape room game built with React and Three.js. https://ronpicard.com/blog/megaminx-12-sided-rubik-s-cube-simulator/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/megaminx-12-sided-rubik-s-cube-simulator/ Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT A browser-based 3D simulator of the 12-sided Megaminx puzzle, built with React and Three.js. https://ronpicard.com/blog/alien-planet-chaos-sandbox/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/alien-planet-chaos-sandbox/ Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Interactive canvas sandbox where you drop black holes, suns, lightning, tornadoes, and tidal waves onto a tiny alien world. https://ronpicard.com/blog/aircraft-aerodynamics-stability-navigation-visualizer/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/aircraft-aerodynamics-stability-navigation-visualizer/ Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Interactive visualizer for aircraft aerodynamics, stability, and navigation, with adjustable angle of attack, control surfaces, thrust, and wind. https://ronpicard.com/blog/control-system-techniques-visualizer/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/control-system-techniques-visualizer/ Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Interactive lab for stabilizing an inverted pendulum with controllers such as PID, LQR, MPC, and fuzzy logic, plus Kalman filters and control-theory lessons. https://ronpicard.com/blog/ai-algorithms-visualizer/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/ai-algorithms-visualizer/ Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Interactive visualizer for AI algorithms, including A* pathfinding, neural networks, decision trees, k-means, genetic algorithms, and reinforcement learning. https://ronpicard.com/blog/search-algorithms-visualizer/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/search-algorithms-visualizer/ Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Interactive visualizer for search and pathfinding algorithms on a maze, grouped as uninformed, informed, memory-bounded, and probabilistic, with live stats. https://ronpicard.com/blog/sorting-algorithms-visualizer/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/sorting-algorithms-visualizer/ Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Interactive sorting visualizer covering bubble, insertion, selection, merge, quick, and heap sort, with adjustable array size and speed. https://ronpicard.com/blog/data-structures-visualizer/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/data-structures-visualizer/ Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Interactive visualizer for core data structures, including arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, hash maps, trees, and graph BFS. https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-24-smart-pointers-virtual-classes-abstract-classes-concrete-classes/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-24-smart-pointers-virtual-classes-abstract-classes-concrete-classes/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 24: Smart Pointers, Virtual Classes, Abstract Classes, Concrete Classes -Smart Pointers --Unique Pointer (exclusive ownership over t… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-23-programming-in-c-data-structures-and-sorting-algorithm-examples/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-23-programming-in-c-data-structures-and-sorting-algorithm-examples/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 23: Programming in C++: Data Structures and Sorting Algorithm Examples -Data Structure Examples --Vectors (basically a dynamic array… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-22-complexity-theory-big-o-notation-p-np/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-22-complexity-theory-big-o-notation-p-np/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 22: Complexity Theory, Big-O Notation, P=NP -Overview of Complexity Theory -Big-O notation -Complexity Classes -P=NP (Polynomial Tim… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-21-programming-in-c-data-structures-part-2/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-21-programming-in-c-data-structures-part-2/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 21: Programming in C++: Data Structures Part 2 -Intro to Data Structures -Linear Data Structures -Associative Containers -User-Defin… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-20-programming-in-c-data-structures-part-1/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-20-programming-in-c-data-structures-part-1/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 20: Programming in C++: Data Structures Part 1 -Intro to Data Structures -Linear Data Structures -Associative Containers -User-Defin… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-19-programming-in-c-pass-by-reference-pointer-value-part-2/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-19-programming-in-c-pass-by-reference-pointer-value-part-2/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 19: Programming in C++: Pass by Reference, Pointer, & Value Part 2 -Pass by Reference, Pass by Pointer, Pass by Value. -Legal and il… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-18-programming-in-c-pass-by-reference-pointer-value-part-1/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-18-programming-in-c-pass-by-reference-pointer-value-part-1/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 18: Programming in C++: Pass by Reference, Pointer, & Value Part 1 -Pass by Reference, Pass by Pointer, Pass by Value. -Legal and il… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-17-programming-in-c-namespaces-pointers-references-types-values/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-17-programming-in-c-namespaces-pointers-references-types-values/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons 17: Programming in C++: Namespaces, Pointers, References, Types, Values -Namespaces -Pointers v References v Values in the context of Stack… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-16-programming-in-c-memory-stack-heap-syntax/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-16-programming-in-c-memory-stack-heap-syntax/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 16: Programming in C++: Memory, Stack, Heap, Syntax -Memory Management -Stack v Heap -Basic syntax and "Hello World" example https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-15-visual-studio-docker-dev-containers-and-protocol-buffers-part-3/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-15-visual-studio-docker-dev-containers-and-protocol-buffers-part-3/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 15: Visual Studio Docker Dev Containers and Protocol Buffers Part 3 -Describing Visual Studio Code Docker Dev Containers -Protocol B… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-14-visual-studio-docker-dev-containers-and-protocol-buffers-part-2/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-14-visual-studio-docker-dev-containers-and-protocol-buffers-part-2/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 14: Visual Studio Docker Dev Containers and Protocol Buffers Part 2 -Describing Visual Studio Code Docker Dev Containers -Protocol B… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-13-visual-studio-docker-dev-containers-and-protocol-buffers-part-1/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-13-visual-studio-docker-dev-containers-and-protocol-buffers-part-1/ Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 13: Visual Studio Docker Dev Containers and Protocol Buffers Part 1 -Describing Visual Studio Code Docker Dev Containers -Protocol B… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-9-object-oriented-programming-oop-part-1-classes-and-inheritance/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-9-object-oriented-programming-oop-part-1-classes-and-inheritance/ Sat, 14 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 9: OOP Part 1 (Classes and Inheritance) - Class syntax - Inheritance - Types - Classic Animal Kingdom Example Introduction to Object… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-12-programming-in-python-object-oriented-oop-part-4-builder-pattern/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-12-programming-in-python-object-oriented-oop-part-4-builder-pattern/ Sat, 14 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 12: Programming In Python: Object-Oriented (OOP) Part 4 (Builder Pattern) -Builder design pattern example with a CarBuilder class th… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-10-object-oriented-programming-oop-part-2-calculator-class-example/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-10-object-oriented-programming-oop-part-2-calculator-class-example/ Sat, 14 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 10: Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Part 2 (Calculator Class Example & Design Patterns) Basics Class syntax Inheritance Types Clas… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-11-programming-in-python-object-oriented-oop-part-3-factory-pattern/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-11-programming-in-python-object-oriented-oop-part-3-factory-pattern/ Sat, 14 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 11: Programming In Python: Object-Oriented (OOP) Part 3 (Factory Pattern) -Factory design pattern example with a CarFactory class an… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-8-programming-in-python-control-flow-loops-functions/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-8-programming-in-python-control-flow-loops-functions/ Sun, 08 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 8: Programming In Python: Control Flow, Loops, & Functions - Python Variables, Control Flow, Loops, and Function Syntax. - White Spa… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-7-operating-systems-containers-python-programming-paradigms/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-7-operating-systems-containers-python-programming-paradigms/ Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 7: Operating Systems, Containers & Python Programming Paradigms Operating systems, kernels Virtual machines (VirtualBox, VMware) Con… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-6-networking-103-binary-data-operating-systems-intro/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-6-networking-103-binary-data-operating-systems-intro/ Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 6: Networking 103 – Binary Data & Operating Systems Intro IPv4 and IPv6 formats and packet structure Binary to ASCII and integers (a… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-5-networking-102-tcp-udp-bandwidth/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-5-networking-102-tcp-udp-bandwidth/ Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 5: Networking 102 – TCP, UDP & Bandwidth IP packets and data flow, ISP, Download vs upload speeds Signal waves Ping vs bandwidth UDP… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-4-networking-101-internet-fundamentals/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-4-networking-101-internet-fundamentals/ Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 4: Networking 101 Topics Covered: 1. IP Addresses, ISP, DNS 2. Speed of Light (Fiber), Speed of Electricity 3. Electromagnetic Spect… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-3-the-four-domains-of-software/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-3-the-four-domains-of-software/ Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 3: The Four Domains of Software Web Development Desktop Apps & Data Science Robotics & Embedded Systems Networking and Protocols Lea… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-2-computer-processing-101-how-code-executes/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-2-computer-processing-101-how-code-executes/ Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 2: Computer Processing 101 CPU cores and caches Parallel processing and threads Deterministic vs stochastic systems Compiled vs inte… https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-1-computer-architecture-101-basic-components/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/software-lessons-session-1-computer-architecture-101-basic-components/ Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMT Software Lessons Session 1: Computer Architecture 101 Von Neumann Architectures CPUs, GPUs, RAM, HDs/SSDs/M.2s BIOS, Operating System ARM vs x86 Learn how co… https://ronpicard.com/blog/stockfish-chatbot-with-a-mistral-llm/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/stockfish-chatbot-with-a-mistral-llm/ Tue, 02 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMT Last Updated: 09/01/25 https://ronpicard.com/blog/alien-escape-game-built-with-websim-llms/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/alien-escape-game-built-with-websim-llms/ Sun, 27 Apr 2025 12:00:00 GMT Introduction The idea of designing your own video game without writing traditional code might have sounded like science fiction not too long ago. Yet today,… https://ronpicard.com/blog/ai-chess-web-app-v2-with-stockfish/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/ai-chess-web-app-v2-with-stockfish/ Fri, 18 Apr 2025 12:00:00 GMT Try it out below! Last Updated: 04/18/25 https://ronpicard.com/blog/build-an-ai-chess-engine-as-fast-as-possible-using-chatgpt/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/build-an-ai-chess-engine-as-fast-as-possible-using-chatgpt/ Sun, 02 Jun 2024 12:00:00 GMT The Problem For a while now I have wondered how much faster it would be to build a C++ application with ChatGPT than without. So I set a goal to program a C+… https://ronpicard.com/blog/got-my-boating-license/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/got-my-boating-license/ Wed, 01 May 2024 12:00:00 GMT Got my boating license. ✅ The Gulf Coast is nice this time of year! 🏖️ https://ronpicard.com/blog/navigating-the-skies-ai-and-autonomous-robotics/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/navigating-the-skies-ai-and-autonomous-robotics/ Wed, 20 Mar 2024 12:00:00 GMT FuturePulse podcast episode featuring Ron Picard, Director of Autonomy Engineering and former USAF civil servant, on AI and autonomous robotics. https://ronpicard.com/blog/x-62-vista-laureate-award-dinner/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/x-62-vista-laureate-award-dinner/ Fri, 15 Mar 2024 12:00:00 GMT Special night, with colleagues and friends. Incredibly honored and humbled to have played a part. https://ronpicard.com/blog/dod-artificial-intelligence-agents-successfully-pilot-a-fighter-jet/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/dod-artificial-intelligence-agents-successfully-pilot-a-fighter-jet/ Thu, 14 Dec 2023 12:00:00 GMT AFRL’s Autonomous Air Combat Operations, or AACO, and DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution, or ACE, AI-driven autonomy agents piloted the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot S… https://ronpicard.com/blog/the-aaax-vision-to-accelerate-autonomy-test-evaluation-using-the-x-62a-vista/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/the-aaax-vision-to-accelerate-autonomy-test-evaluation-using-the-x-62a-vista/ Fri, 20 Jan 2023 12:00:00 GMT The Autonomous Attritable Aircraft Experiment (AAAx) is an experimentation campaign that seeks to (1) Determine the competitive advantage of autonomous attri… https://ronpicard.com/blog/flew-a-tb-10-with-a-retired-t-38-pilot/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/flew-a-tb-10-with-a-retired-t-38-pilot/ Tue, 17 May 2022 12:00:00 GMT Went flying with a retired T-38 pilot today. Did some lazy eights over the beach, and enjoyed the sunshine of Destin, Florida! I had never flown a French air… https://ronpicard.com/blog/first-multi-engine-flight-1959-beechcraft-be95/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/first-multi-engine-flight-1959-beechcraft-be95/ Tue, 17 May 2022 12:00:00 GMT Flew a 1959 Beechcraft (BE95) yesterday. Known as the “Cadillac of General Aviation”, it held to its name. With the mix of a wide, comfortable fuselage (high… https://ronpicard.com/blog/simulated-engine-failures-in-a-piper-warrior-ii-pa-28-161/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/simulated-engine-failures-in-a-piper-warrior-ii-pa-28-161/ Tue, 17 May 2022 12:00:00 GMT Practiced simulated engine failures with a friend today in a Piper Warrior II (PA-28-161). We decided to practice simulated engine failures with a 360-degree… https://ronpicard.com/blog/flew-a-super-decathlon-today/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/flew-a-super-decathlon-today/ Tue, 17 May 2022 12:00:00 GMT It all begins with an idea. https://ronpicard.com/blog/got-an-amateur-ham-radio-technician-class-license-call-sign-k4agn/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/got-an-amateur-ham-radio-technician-class-license-call-sign-k4agn/ Tue, 17 May 2022 12:00:00 GMT A couple of weeks ago I decided to study and test for my amateur radio technician license. For those of you unfamiliar with the art, HAM radio operators are… https://ronpicard.com/blog/flew-a-cherokee-6-pa-32-with-a-friend/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/flew-a-cherokee-6-pa-32-with-a-friend/ Tue, 17 May 2022 12:00:00 GMT Another day, another airplane! Cherokee 6 (PA-32) today. Interesting flying a high-power complex airplane. Makes me want to get some additional endorsements!… https://ronpicard.com/blog/officially-a-private-pilot/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/officially-a-private-pilot/ Wed, 07 Jul 2021 12:00:00 GMT I passed my Private Pilot Checkride!! This is one of the accomplishments that I am most proud of in my life. It took a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears b… https://ronpicard.com/blog/4th-solo/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/4th-solo/ Mon, 29 Mar 2021 12:00:00 GMT Fourth solo flight: local area flying in a Piper Archer II (PA-28-181). https://ronpicard.com/blog/first-solo/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/first-solo/ Sun, 08 Nov 2020 12:00:00 GMT First Solo Landing https://ronpicard.com/blog/second-solo/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/second-solo/ Sun, 08 Nov 2020 12:00:00 GMT Starting The Engine https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-induction/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-induction/ Sun, 03 Nov 2019 12:00:00 GMT Introduction: Induction is a mathematical technique used to prove a property of a system. Intuitively, you can think of induction as a way of proving that al… https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-formal-systems/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-formal-systems/ Mon, 21 Oct 2019 12:00:00 GMT Introduction: A Formal System is a set of formulas (axioms, or derived from axioms) that are used to infer properties, theorems, or additional truths. Axioms… https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-decidability/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-decidability/ Tue, 15 Oct 2019 12:00:00 GMT Introduction: There are some problems for which there does not exist an algorithm that can guarantee to return a correct (ex. yes or no) answer. These are ca… https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-complexity-theory/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-complexity-theory/ Tue, 08 Oct 2019 12:00:00 GMT Introduction: Complexity Theory deals with how ‘complex’ a problem is to solve. That is, how many steps it takes to solve a problem. This topic is one of the… https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-second-order-and-higher-order-logic/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-second-order-and-higher-order-logic/ Sat, 05 Oct 2019 12:00:00 GMT Introduction: Second-Order Logic extends First-Order Logic to Quantify Sets. Whereas first-order logic may only quantify Variables in a domain of discourse (… https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-boolean-satisfiability-sat/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-boolean-satisfiability-sat/ Sat, 05 Oct 2019 12:00:00 GMT Introduction: A Boolean-valued logic formula (predicate) is said to be Satisfiable (SAT) if a valid assignment (also known as a model) to the predicate varia… https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-satisfiability-modulo-theories-smt/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-satisfiability-modulo-theories-smt/ Sat, 05 Oct 2019 12:00:00 GMT Introduction: The Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT) problem is an extension to SAT problems in which the variables take on values beyond just Boolean-valu… https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-binary-relations/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-binary-relations/ Fri, 04 Oct 2019 12:00:00 GMT Introduction: Relations (R) are a generalization of functions (f), (such that f ⊂ R) and are used to specify sets; or more intuitively the relationship betwe… https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-zero-order-propositional-logic/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-zero-order-propositional-logic/ Fri, 04 Oct 2019 12:00:00 GMT Introduction: Zero-Order Logic (also known as propositional logic or propositional calculus) is the foundation of most formal logic systems. In Zero-Order Lo… https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-first-order-logic-fol/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-first-order-logic-fol/ Fri, 04 Oct 2019 12:00:00 GMT Introduction: First-Order Logic extends Zero-Order Logic (or Propositional Logic) to include variables and quantifiers. First-Order Logic operators are used… https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-set-theory/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/formal-methods-101-set-theory/ Thu, 03 Oct 2019 12:00:00 GMT Introduction: Set Theory involves sets which are unordered lists. Ex. Set: S = (a, b, c) Note: S is the set and a, b, c are the elements of the set. All memb… https://ronpicard.com/blog/improvements-to-feed-forward-neural-networks-used-to-classify-forest-type-covers-based-on/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/improvements-to-feed-forward-neural-networks-used-to-classify-forest-type-covers-based-on/ Wed, 07 Aug 2019 12:00:00 GMT As computational power increases, deep neural networks provide an empirically effective way to classify large data sets based on a small labeled subset. Fore… https://ronpicard.com/blog/action-schema-neural-networks-generalized-policies-for-stochastic-planning-problems-in-the/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/action-schema-neural-networks-generalized-policies-for-stochastic-planning-problems-in-the/ Wed, 07 Aug 2019 12:00:00 GMT Stochastic shortest-path problems have been of interest to the automated planning community for many years. Traditionally, policy solutions to these problems… https://ronpicard.com/blog/model-based-design-of-a-closed-loop-speed-controller-for-a-hybrid-system/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/model-based-design-of-a-closed-loop-speed-controller-for-a-hybrid-system/ Fri, 03 May 2019 12:00:00 GMT Model-Based Design (MBD) has been used for decades to design controllers for hybrid systems. MBD requires special considerations when modeling, designing, an… https://ronpicard.com/blog/particle-filter-speed-controller-for-a-closed-loop-vehicle-system/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/particle-filter-speed-controller-for-a-closed-loop-vehicle-system/ Fri, 03 May 2019 12:00:00 GMT Particle filters provide an effective stochastic method for predicting an unknown distribution; this makes them suitable for predicting the underlying proper… https://ronpicard.com/blog/analysis-of-n-queens-stochastic-algorithms-using-probabilistic-model-checking/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/analysis-of-n-queens-stochastic-algorithms-using-probabilistic-model-checking/ Fri, 03 May 2019 12:00:00 GMT Probabilistic model checking extends model checking to domains in which actions will be taken based on a certain probability. This aligns nicely with modelin… https://ronpicard.com/blog/convolutional-neural-networks/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/convolutional-neural-networks/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 12:00:00 GMT In this notebook, we will walk through the design, training, and testing of convolutional neural networks (CNNs). These neural networks will be used for imag… https://ronpicard.com/blog/neural-networks-with-minibatch-stochastic-gradient-descent-and-adaptive-moments-adam/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/neural-networks-with-minibatch-stochastic-gradient-descent-and-adaptive-moments-adam/ Thu, 04 Apr 2019 12:00:00 GMT In this notebook, we will walk through the design, training, and testing of neural networks with multiple hidden layers using minibatch stochastic gradient d… https://ronpicard.com/blog/neural-networks-with-minibatch-stochastic-gradient-descent-and-momentum/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/neural-networks-with-minibatch-stochastic-gradient-descent-and-momentum/ Tue, 19 Mar 2019 12:00:00 GMT In this notebook, we will walk through the design, training, and testing of neural networks with multiple hidden layers using minibatch stochastic gradient d… https://ronpicard.com/blog/neural-networks-with-single-neuron-implementation/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/neural-networks-with-single-neuron-implementation/ Thu, 07 Mar 2019 12:00:00 GMT In this notebook, we will walk through the design, training, and testing of a neural network with one neuron. This neural network will be used for logistic r… https://ronpicard.com/blog/neural-networks-of-l-layers-n-neurons-with-dropout-and-l2-regularization/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/neural-networks-of-l-layers-n-neurons-with-dropout-and-l2-regularization/ Thu, 07 Mar 2019 12:00:00 GMT In this notebook, we will walk through the design, training, and testing of neural networks with multiple hidden layers. We will train networks utilizing L2… https://ronpicard.com/blog/3d-linear-regression-using-gradient-descent-implementation/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/3d-linear-regression-using-gradient-descent-implementation/ Thu, 07 Mar 2019 12:00:00 GMT In this notebook, we will walk through how to perform linear regression using gradient descent. The goal for this example is to predict what the good market… https://ronpicard.com/blog/2d-linear-regression-using-gradient-descent-implementation/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/2d-linear-regression-using-gradient-descent-implementation/ Thu, 07 Mar 2019 12:00:00 GMT In this notebook, we will walk through how to perform linear regression using gradient descent. The goal for this example is to predict what the profit for a… https://ronpicard.com/blog/linear-regression-using-gradient-descent/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/linear-regression-using-gradient-descent/ Thu, 10 Jan 2019 12:00:00 GMT When it comes to machine learning a popular starting place tends to be linear regression using gradient descent. The reasoning is that it is a simple optimiz… https://ronpicard.com/blog/build-your-own-ubuntu-linux-router/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/build-your-own-ubuntu-linux-router/ Fri, 04 Jan 2019 12:00:00 GMT Building your own bare-bones Linux router is not only educational but in this age of cyber-security threats, it is an excellent way to secure your home netwo… https://ronpicard.com/blog/build-a-home-vpn-with-openvpn/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/build-a-home-vpn-with-openvpn/ Fri, 04 Jan 2019 12:00:00 GMT First, let’s talk about what VPNs are and why I recommend everyone have one. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, but the name can sometimes be confusing.… https://ronpicard.com/blog/build-a-wordpress-website-from-scratch/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/build-a-wordpress-website-from-scratch/ Sat, 22 Dec 2018 12:00:00 GMT Step 1 – The Prep Work When creating a WordPress website from scratch there are a couple of things we need to do upfront. First, we need to purchase a domain… https://ronpicard.com/blog/webgme-railway-network-design-studio/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/webgme-railway-network-design-studio/ Wed, 19 Dec 2018 12:00:00 GMT This is a railway-networks-plugin for WebGME that traverses through the tree structures and saves various information in a .zip artifact. https://ronpicard.com/blog/webgme-colored-petri-net-design-studio/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/webgme-colored-petri-net-design-studio/ Wed, 19 Dec 2018 12:00:00 GMT Colored Petri Nets are a directed graph modeling approach utilized to reason about race conditions and deadlocks within concurrent systems. We present a Desi… https://ronpicard.com/blog/e-puck-robot-control-and-a-navigation/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/e-puck-robot-control-and-a-navigation/ Wed, 19 Dec 2018 12:00:00 GMT A common problem in autonomous route planning and controls is to implement efficient motor control, sensor feedback, and route planning algorithms to allow a… https://ronpicard.com/blog/computer-vision-security-system/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/computer-vision-security-system/ Wed, 19 Dec 2018 12:00:00 GMT Abstract The use of security systems is becoming more prevalent in this modern age. With the advent of machine learning algorithms, there is a unique opportu… https://ronpicard.com/blog/aircraft-automated-collision-avoidance/ https://ronpicard.com/blog/aircraft-automated-collision-avoidance/ Wed, 19 Dec 2018 12:00:00 GMT Aircraft collision avoidance is a pervasive need in this modern age of flight. We present a 2-D automated collision avoidance flight controller for automated…