Giuseppe Tagliavini

PROPOSALS FOR BACHELOR AND MASTER THESES ON SEVERAL RESEARCH TOPICS

1. Using an LLM to generate optimized code for algorithms running on embedded platforms. Starting from a program written in C (called a reference or golden model), several alternatives exist in contexts where increased execution efficiency is needed, for example: - parallelizing the code for a multi-core architecture: this requires dividing sequential computation into multiple execution flows. - vectorizing the code: this requires transforming code that works on scalar data into code that works on vector data. - using an accelerator: a specific accelerator could execute part of the program (for example, a hardware component specialized in performing convolutions or matrix multiplications). In all these cases, the goal is to derive optimized code from pre-provided C code. The generated code must be syntactically correct and provide the correct result, the same as the initial program used as a reference. All these operations must be automated as much as possible through scripting and used through a standard interface.
2. Design of a particle filter for a robot to localize objects in the environment. The operating principle of particle filters is described here: https://sassafras13.github.io/PF/. For the implementation, a simulation platform such as WeBots (https://cyberbotics.com/) will be used, which allows for the creation of a model of the world and the acquisition of data from virtual sensors mounted on the robot. Of particular interest are data from LIDAR, which is typically used to map the environment.
3. Design of hardware modules using high-level synthesis techniques and a Large Language Model (LLM). This is a relatively recent discipline (example scientific article: https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.15112). In this case, the thesis includes two main parts: a first part analyzing the state of the art, investigating current techniques, and conducting some experiments on the most promising ones; a second part in which we try to generate a simple HW module for the PULP architecture using a standard interface (https://hwpe-doc.readthedocs.io/en/latest/). This activity requires a preliminary study of a hardware description language (SystemVerilog).

PORPOSALS FOR MASTER THESES IN COLLABORATION WITH INDUSTRY

• Develop and/or improve compilers, debuggers, and the development environment for the programming of Infineon Micro-Controllers (Eclipse plugins, cloud, GUI, ...)
• Develop and/or improve the Embedded use cases and examples (Timers, Virtualization, Motor Control, and similar)
• Help with the analysis of interesting real use cases from the Automotive industry
• Detailed information: Master Thesis at Infineon