Research
My research is broadly focused on embedded systems, reconfigurable computing and adaptive systems and their practical engineering applications.
High Level Design of Adaptive Systems
This work is mainly concentrated on FPGA reconfiguration and its applications. We will propose and develop a design flow, based on high-level application descriptions, that will allow adaptive systems to be designed and implemented on FPGAs, with minimal low-level hardware knowledge. This research aims to build on prior work in the area, but to propose a much more robust and general solution to building adaptive systems, which is accessible to domain experts. The aim of this research project is to design the infrastructure and tools necessary to enable the high-level design of adaptive hardware systems, with the aim of making the process accessible to those who are not hardware or FPGA experts. As part of the project, example applications in cognitive radio and automotive applications will be demonstrated.
Dynamic Partial Reconfiguration
Partial reconfiguration (PR) involves selectively modifying only portions of an FPGA while the remaining portions continue to execute without interruption. Although proposed more than two decades before and available in commercial FPGAs for more than a decade, its adoption in mainstream FPGA system design remains underwhelming. The inital research goal is to understand the challenges preventing the wide spread acceptance of this technique. In the later stage we will try to propose techniques, methodologies and solutions for adopting PR in system development.
Embedded Systems Development
This involves some real engineering work. The aim is to develop systems which aid in my mainstream research work along with helping to keep uptodate with industrial trends. Industry leaders such as Xilinx and Altera are releasing new hardware and software in such a fast-pace that pure theoretical research works become quickly obsolete. Presently the favourite development platform is Xilinx's latest Zynq SoC. Hoping to release some open cores soon so that others are also benefited.