2024-10-29

Title of thesis: Application Specific Instruction-set Processors for Massive MIMO Systems

Link to thesis in Lund University Research Portal.

Defence: Monday November 11th, 09:15, room E:1406.
Zoom Link:
https://lu-se.zoom.us/j/68795368213
Zoom ID: 68795368213

Describe your research in a popular science way
It is easy to forget that digital processors form the substrate on which most of the amazing technological advances we enjoy today are built upon. The way we communicate nowadays is no exception. The cellphone you hold in your hand is a powerhouse in its own right, matching, and even sometimes dwarfing, the performance of what room-sized supercomputers were capable of 20 years ago. There are also wireless communication systems that work tirelessly, day and night, to bring what you want to life. For instance, communication towers employ hundreds of antennas in a setup that is called massive MIMO. Having these many antennas implies the need for a commensurately powerful processor to crunch the numbers. But performance is only one side of the coin. With the advent of every new standard, and as we crank up the numbers sitting next to their G neighbors (3G, 4G, 5G, ...), what seems to become more clear is that not only do we need more performance, we also have to deal with different scenarios. This requires processors that are powerful in their number crunching capabilities, as well as in their ability to cope with this varied nature. And that is what my research boils down to: creating application specific instruction set processors known as ASIPs that can take on the vagaries of the changing standards with programmability, and yet stand tall when it comes to processing power by seeking aid from customized accelerators.

What made you want to pursue a PhD?
I wasn’t really planning on running the PhD gauntlet, but my sister floated the idea one day, and, after some initial (and futile) resistance, I picked it up. I’m a more practical-oriented kind of dude, so I thought maybe looking at things from the lens of research by means of a PhD degree would be an interesting challenge, so I went for it.

Do you believe some results from your research will be applied in practice eventually? And if so, how / how?
It’s tough to opine on this with certainty, as human beings are not known for their oracular abilities. Having said that, I believe malleability of the system when it comes to handling disparate problems is going to be a key factor going forward, and as a result, ASIPs look like an appetizing choice to fill this role. So, are the ASIPs what the doctor ordered? Only time will tell.

What are your plans?
Now that I’ve had my daily dose of PhD for the past few years, I am going to move on to industry for a change of pace.