The rapid growth of wireless data traffic is driving 6G networks toward higher data rates, lower latency, and wider bandwidths. Power amplifiers (PAs) must operate efficiently and linearly over extreme bandwidths, but traditional polynomial-based digital predistortion (DPD) techniques struggle with wideband signals due to increased computational complexity and memory requirements.
Neural network (NN)-based DPD offers a promising alternative, modeling complex PA nonlinearities with improved flexibility and linearization performance. Existing NN-based approaches, mostly using recurrent neural networks, face limitations in parallelization, making them unable to satisfy the throughput requirements of wideband signals.
This thesis introduces a hardware-aware Phase-Normalized Time-Delay Neural Network DPD architecture, optimized for FPGA and ASIC implementation. The design balances the high linearization performance and throughput requirements with low power consumption and minimal silicon area. The study used algorithm–hardware co-design strategies to create a viable NN-based DPD solution for next-generation wireless transmitters. The research is limited to simulated measurements, with no physical measurements being done.
Simulated results show that the PNTDNN achieves strong linearization for both narrowband and wideband signals, with FPGA and ASIC implementations supporting real-time processing of 20 MHz and 400 MHz base-band signals, respectively. The architecture demonstrates scalability, energy efficiency, and reprogrammability, providing a practical solution for next-generation 6G transmitters and bridging the gap between advanced NN-based DPD algorithms and hardware feasibility.
Simulated results demonstrate that the PNTDNN achieves strong linearization performance for both narrowband and wideband signals. For a 400 MHz baseband bandwidth signal, it attains –36.3 dB EVM, –38.5 dB NMSE, and –45.6 dB ACPRAVG with approximately 1000 parameters, while for a 20 MHz baseband bandwidth signal, it achieves –54.0 dB EVM, –48.2 dB NMSE, and –59.4 dB ACPRAVG using only 64 parameters. The FPGA implementation for the 20 MHz dataset achieves 7.5× oversampling at 170 MHz clock frequency and throughput, using 405 mW power. The ASIC implementation for the 400 MHz dataset achieves 2× oversampling at 1.2 GHz clock frequency and throughput, with an area of 0.451 mm2 using 893 mW power. Both the FPGA and ASIC implementations allow power optimization via unstructured pruning, with the FPGA having hardcoded weights and biases and the ASIC having reprogrammable weights and biases. ... Read more

Automated Robotic arms redefine the limits of antenna characterization. This paper presents a method to estimate the far-field radiation pattern of antennas utilizing near-field measurements through the use of a 6-axis robotic arm. The innovation of our project lies in overcoming the current limitation of fixed scanning geometries, by extending them to any possible spatial shape with the support of a 6-axis robotic arm.
The project is built and validated incrementally through a series of MATLAB functions, utilizing the equivalence theorem as a NF to FF transformation method. Each stage builds upon the previous ones and increases in complexity. Validation stages begin by simulating infinitesimal dipoles and progress up to experimental validation of a tilted horn antenna. All the validation steps are successfully met, except for an unexpected phase symmetry. Our work sets a solid foundation for further development of this antenna measurement system. The system will significantly improve antenna characterization by enabling more flexible scanning grids. ... Read more

Eye tracking serves as a critical component across diverse areas of human-computer interaction (HCI) and healthcare applications, serving as a key enabler for intuitive and seamless user experiences. In HCI, eye tracking allows systems to detect users’ visual attention and gaze direction, facilitating natural interaction methods in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and assistive technologies. In the healthcare domain, it is used for diagnosing and monitoring neurological disorders for patients. To be practical for deployment in wearable or embedded systems, eye tracking systems must deliver realtime performance while maintaining ultra-low power consumption. This requirement poses significant challenges in algorithm design and hardware implementation, especially when balancing accuracy, responsiveness, and energy efficiency. This thesis introduces JaneEye, an event-based eye tracking hardware accelerator optimized for ultralow latency and power consumption. The system is built around a lightweight, self-designed neural network architecture, in which a gated multilayer perceptron (MLP) and a novel convolutional Just Another Network (ConvJANET) layer play central roles in enabling efficient and accurate prediction. Despite having only 17.6K parameters, the proposed network maintains high prediction accuracy. Through software-hardware co-design strategies including quantization and nonlinear activation function approximation together with a new dataflow strategy that combines weight stationary and output stationary modes, the accelerator achieves remarkable performance. Based on post-layout simulation in GlobalFoundries 12LP-PLUS technolog, the JaneEye accelerator reaches an end-to-end latency of 0.5 ms (equivalent to 2000 FPS) while consuming just 18.9 μJ per frame operating at 400 MHz. To the best of our knowledge, this work demonstrates state-of-the-art trade-offs among accuracy, latency, and energy efficiency for event-based eye tracking, making it a strong candidate for integration into future AR/VR headsets and wearable healthcare devices. ... Read more

This thesis aims to further study the optimal algorithm for data acquisition in the far field region of an electromagnetic field radiated by an antenna. This was done as a part of a larger project where the aim was to design and test an antenna measurement setup, which utilises a robotic arm to perform the measurements. Various sampling algorithms were implemented and tested on simulated analytic field patterns, performed using MATLAB. The sampling grids used in simulations were the equiangular, Fibonacci and Gauss-Legendre grid. The performance of these algorithms were evaluated, using the number of samples as a way to measure their efficiency and the calculated directivity as a way to measure the accuracy. Then, they were validated using measurements made using rectangular horn antennas in combination with the measurement setup utilising the robotic arm. Then from these measurements a visualisation of the radiation patterns were generated. In the end the results verify that the proposed algorithms will work as an efficient and accurate algorithm for data acquisition and will provide a valid sampling method to be used in the final measurement setup. The Gauss-Legendre grid proved more efficient for measuring the field and calculating the directivity, while maintaining the same levels of accuracy as the equiangular grid. ... Read more

This thesis details the theoretical background and development process of a classification model for electroencephalogram-based (EEG) motor imagery (MI) signals, to be used in a brain-computer interface (BCI) system. This project was undertaken in order to demonstrate the possibility of distinguishing MI-EEG signals acquired using the g.tec Unicorn Hybrid Black EEG measurement cap. The classification model devised in this thesis is a hybrid deep neural network model, which combines a convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural network (RNN) in parallel, closing with a fully-connected (FC) layer. Much experimentation and research was needed to create this model, and this is extensively discussed within the thesis. The classification model produced for this thesis is one part of a complete end-to-end BCI system, which also entails a measurement and data processing procedure, and the development of a graphical user interface which provides visual feedback to the user.

On publicly available datasets, the classification model produced promising performance, achieving 55% on the BCI Competition IV-2a (4 class) dataset and 78% on the BCI IV-2a (2 class) dataset. The model has not yet been tested on self-collected data. ... Read more

The main goal of this project is to utilize a commercially available OpenBCI Ultracortex IV for the measurement of Electroencephalogram(EEG) signals. A pipeline consisting of preprocessing, classification and extraction is employed to transform the motor execution EEG signal into a singular Left or Right output. This output is then further displayed on an Interface that offers the option to either calibrate or play a simple game.

The Ultracortex and relevant software were used to determine the sensor layout, with the placement of the sensors focused on areas which exhibited high cortical activity during motor execution. Experiments were strategically designed to optimize our chance of successful readings and OpenVIBE was used in conjecture with preprocessing filters to save the raw and filtered data which was further sent to the Machine Learning group.

The collected data was analyzed through Spectrograms, Power Spectral Density(PSD) and Event-Related Desynchronization/Synchronization(ERDS) plots. The analysis aimed to confirm whether the desired activity occurred and whether the observed patterns resemble those documented in other research papers.

The data from the headset is live-streamed to the interface via Lab Streaming Layer(LSL) where it undergoes further filtering before being sent to the Machine learning group. This process was done through python libraries which then allowed for efficient and effective communication between the other groups. ... Read more

As technology nodes continue to shrink, more challenges arise in the field of Design for Testability (DfT). Sequential Integrated Circuits (IC) with asynchronous (re)set flip-flops are notorious for producing unwanted reset behaviour during scan-test. Typically the scan flip-flops are restricted to a non-reset state while the shift operation is performed. This can be achieved by inserting an independent test signal in parallel with each local reset port. This ensures that the scan flip-flops are loaded with the correct input data during the shift cycle. However, before the capture cycle is initiated, this test signal must be released as it prohibits the reset logic from being tested with stuck-at-faults. When there are multiple cascading resets present in the design this release can cause glitches to occur. Since the reset ports operate asynchronously, these glitches can also trigger a scan flip-flop to reset, thereby changing the input data. As a result, some chips may be tested with corrupted input data, leading to differences in scan patterns. Consequently, these ICs fail during manufacturing tests and are classified as faulty, leading to yield loss.


By adding DfT to the (re)set port of each flip-flop these glitches can be prevented at the cost of additional hardware. This thesis establishes the conditions that lead to the occurrence of asynchronous (re)set glitches during scan-test. A design rule-based algorithm is proposed that can accurately identify glitchy structures for circuits without reconvergence. As an extension, a simulation-based algorithm is presented that can further classify which (re)set flip-flops can cause a glitch. These algorithms have been tested on two case studies where glitches have been observed. After deploying these algorithms 33% and 71% of the total number of (re)set flip-flops were identified as glitch-free. By only adding additional DfT to these flip-flops the overhead is significantly reduced. This work addresses a significant challenge in minimizing the cost of robust asynchronous scan test. ... Read more

In 2022, there were over 26 million electric automobiles on the road, a 60% increase with regard to 2021 and more than 5 times the stock in 2018. As automobiles become more electric and systems get increasingly complex, the safety requirements get more stringent. In 2011, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) established ISO26262 to provide guidance to the semiconductor industry on the development process of safety essential ICs for automotive applications.

When evaluating the safety of a system parallel to the normal functional operation, traditional Design-for-Test (DFT) techniques such as scan chain, Built-In Self-Test (BIST), Joint Test Action Group (JTAG), and boundary scan are no longer viable options for two fundamental reasons. Firstly, safety assessment in the context of automotive applications necessitates evaluation at an application level, going beyond the capabilities of these techniques, which are primarily designed for structural and functional testing. Secondly, during safety checks, it is imperative that the normal operation of the integrated circuit (IC) remains uninterrupted, as the chip is often deployed in critical, real-time systems. These traditional DFT methods, while effective during the IC manufacture and production before they are released in the market, fall short of addressing the dynamic and application-specific safety concerns that arise during the operational lifecycle of safety-critical systems in sectors like automotive engineering.

To address these challenges, fault injection has emerged as the necessary step for safety assessment. ISO26262 explicitly recognizes fault injection as one of the most popular techniques for evaluating a system's safety and determining its Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL). The safety metrics are required for certification of a product with ASIL. Fault injection allows for the creation of realistic fault scenarios and the assessment of how the system responds to these faults during normal operation, aligning more closely with the dynamic and application-specific nature of safety-critical systems in fields of automotive engineering.

Currently, many EDA companies provide Failure Mode Effects and Diagnostic Analysis (FMEDA) platforms for IC safety evaluations. However, these tools are time-consuming and resource-intensive. Additionally, as IC designs become more intricate, there is a reliance on fault reduction techniques such as statistical sampling, which entails simulating only a mere 5% of the overall fault space. Thus, an FPGA-based fault emulation system emerges as a promising approach to expedite this process.

The novelty of this work was in designing a dedicated platform tailored for the evaluation of safety-critical systems for automotive applications such as Battery Management Systems (BMS). This platform can execute the safety sequences on the system to evaluate the safety mechanisms implemented in the design in the presence of random faults assuming the chip is in use in the car. Moreover, the fault emulation activity provides the evidence necessary for the certification of products with ASIL level. Furthermore, performing this activity during the development stage helps in designing the ICs with the highest level of safety. The proposed FPGA-based fault emulation system efficiently overcomes three key challenges: it decreases execution time dramatically provides a speed-up of 296x compared to the simulation method, optimizes resource utilization, eliminates the tool license cost, and removes the requirement for considerable fault space reduction. This platform can emulate a large fault population of up to one million faults in less than three hours. ... Read more