Open Theses
If you are interested in one of the topics, feel free to contact the corresponding supervisors.
Simulation and Evaluation of Hybrid Volatile/Non-Volatile Cache Architectures
Type:
Bachelor/Master Thesis
Summary:
To avoid the overhead of full-system simulation for the purpose of research and virtual prototyping, dedicated memory simulators such as DRAMSys [1] can be used, which not only includes main memory simulation but also incorporates a simplified cache model. For this thesis, the main focus lies on extending the DRAMSys cache model.
Specifically, emerging approaches based on Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) such as hybrid caches offer new research opportunities. In hybrid cache architectures, each cache set is composed of a combination of volatile SRAM cache lines and non-volatile STT-MRAM cache lines.STT-MRAM cells provide higher density than SRAM cells, exhibit near-zero static power consumption, and offer energy-efficient read operations. However, write operations to STT-MRAM incur a much higher latency and energy overhead compared to SRAM. As a result, hybrid caches introduce fundamentally new design considerations, particularly with respect to cache replacement strategies, since cache lines within the same set are no longer homogeneous in terms of their underlying technology.
This thesis proposes to integrate such hybrid cache architectures into the existing DRAMSys cache model, along with the development and evaluation of novel cache replacement strategies tailored to heterogeneous cache sets. The goal is to analyze the trade-offs of hybrid SRAM/STT-MRAM caches and to study their impact on overall memory system performance, energy consumption, and main memory behavior.
Supervisors:
Nils Wilbert and Prof. Matthias Jung
Links:
Development of a Unikernel-based Framework for Full-System Simulation
Type:
Bachelor/Master Thesis
Summary:
To simulate complex computer systems, architectural simulators such as gem5 [1] are commonly used. These simulators can be configured to run a wide range of workloads, from bare-metal applications to full Linux system images.
When operating system functionality is required, e.g., the use of virtual memory, dynamic memory allocation or other OS services, an inherent trade-off in the simulation setup arises. One option is to boot a full Linux image within gem5, which provides high fidelity but incurs great simulation overhead and results in long execution times. Alternatively, gem5’s System-call Emulation (SE) mode can be used, which emulates system calls on the host system. While this approach significantly improves simulation speed, it potentially reduces the accuracy of the simulation results.
A third approach, which this thesis aims to investigate, is the use of unikernels, for example based on Unikraft [2]. Unikernels are library-based operating systems in which only the components required by a specific application, are compiled into a single binary. As a result, the image remains fairly compact.
Unikernels are thus expected to allow for faster simulation compared to full Linux system while still handling system calls and OS functionality internally, rather than delegating them to the host. The central focus of this thesis is to setup a unikernel-based simulation framework for gem5 an evaluate the trade-offs during simulation. In particular, the work aims to quantify the potential performance gains in simulation speed and to assess any loss of simulation accuracy compared to full-system simulation and system call emulation approaches, respectively.
Supervisors:
Nils Wilbert and Prof. Matthias Jung
Links:
Development of a Software for Field Field Strength Meter Calibration
Type:
Bachelor Thesis / Project Work
Summary:
In many countries, regulations limit the electromagnetic field strength around licensed amateur radio stations to ensure public safety. When dealing with complex station setups and environmental conditions, measurement results are often the only possible evidence. Therefore, the proper calibration of used field strength meters is essential. This project aims to update an existing Windows software [1] and develop a new calibration setup based on Linux. The software should be platform-independent, built using C++ or Rust with a focus on Test-Driven Development and Documentation. It should communicate with measurement equipment via IEEE488 and USB, while also recording a video stream of the measurements. Remote control functionality is desired, with a split between server and host seeming like a reasonable approach. Finally, the software should output measurement results in a spreadsheet format. Once the new software is set up, measurements will be taken and compared to those obtained with the old legacy system.
Supervisor:
Links:
Development of Software for ADALM Pluto SDR
Type:
Bachelor or Master Thesis
Summary:
The objective of this project is to develop a Software-Defined Radio (SDR) application for controlling the ADALM Pluto FPGA SDR plattform [2], manufactured by Analog Devices. The software will provide functionalities for both signal reception (RX) and transmission (TX). Moreover, it will include a waterfall diagram and spectrum view, along with the capability to demodulate and modulate Single Sideband (SSB) signals [3]. Additionally, the software will support the connection to the Pluto via ethernet and audio input and output via the computer's sound card. The implementation will be based on the Qt framework, with [1] serving as the initial reference. The primary purpose of this SDR application is to establish communication with the geostationary satellite QO-100.
Supervisors:
Prof. Matthias Jung and Prof. Guido Dietl
Links:
