Software and firmware for AMD-Xilinx's Zynq System on Chip (SoC)

Overview

Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) offer designers of electronic systems the flexibility of reprogrammability with the speed advantages of dedicated hardware. Each new generation of FPGAs become faster, more powerful and integrates new features. Of particular interest in this project is AMD's Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC. An FPGA at its core, it is also a system-on-chip (SoC), meaning that it incorporates a microprocessor and its typical interfaces, along with a wide-bandwidth radio-frequency (RF) subsystem. An RFSoC opens up exciting possibilities for miniaturising sophisticated RF systems such as radar and wireless communications. This project will explore these possibilities.

Research engagement

The project will involve research and development in an engineering environment. It will involve lab-based work and programming. It may also require a literature review.

Research activities

The project can be tailored to suit the student's interest. It would expose the student to some combination of:
- digital signal processing, prototyping in MATLAB
- embedded software, mostly in the C programming language
- embedded Linux applications
- test driven development
- git version control
- docker containers
Students with an interest in signal processing, embedded software, firmware and/or the Linux operating system are encouraged to apply.

Outcomes

The aim will be to  produce a working system, based on a SoC, that performs a function related to radar &/or wireless comms.

Skills and experience

Students who have taken subjects in digital signal processing, telecommunications and/or embedded systems would be ideal.

Start date

1 December, 2024

End date

28 February, 2025

Location

Whipbird Signals Pty. Ltd., 29 Main St., Samford Village, Qld.

Keywords

• SoC
• FPGA
• signal processing
• radar
• embedded systems

Contact

Vaughan Clarkson, ph. 0412 622 768, vaughan.clarkson@qut.edu.au