Examining the Dynamics of Online Hate Speech in the Context of the Israel-Palestine ConflictPersona da contattare:
FRANCESCO PIERRIEmail:
francesco.pierri@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Pagina Web:
pierri.faculty.polimi.itDescrizione
Descrizione:
This study investigates the dynamics of online hate speech related to the Israel-Palestine conflict by analyzing social media discourse across major platforms. Using NLP and discourse analysis, it explores how hate speech fluctuates in response to key events and assesses the effectiveness of platform moderation. The goal is to better understand digital polarization in geopolitical conflicts.
Nascondi Descrizione
Solving image matching in Computer Vision exploiting permutation matricesPersona da contattare:
FEDERICA ARRIGONIEmail:
federica.arrigoni@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Luca MagriDescrizione
Descrizione:
A prominent problem in Computer Vision is multi-image matching, where the task is to find matches (i.e, coordinates of image points that derive from the same 3D point) across multiple images. This can be formalized as an optimization problem (called “synchronization”) over permutation matrices, and solved via eigenvalue decomposition. The goal of this thesis is to develop a new method for multi-image matching based on permutation matrices.
Reference: F. Arrigoni, A. Fusiello. Synchronization problems in Computer Vision with Closed-form solutions. IJCV 2020 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11263-019-01240-x
Nascondi Descrizione
Identifying degenerate configurations in 3D reconstruction problems in Computer VisionPersona da contattare:
FEDERICA ARRIGONIEmail:
federica.arrigoni@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Luca MagriDescrizione
Descrizione:
3D reconstruction is an important problem in Computer Vision grounded in projective geometry. It is known that 3D reconstruction from two images can not be performed in some degenerate cases, for example when the 3D scene is a critical surface (a hyperboloid, a cone, two planes) and the cameras lie on that surface. The goal of this thesis is to develop a new method for detecting degenerate configurations in practice. A good mathematical background is preferred but not mandatory.
References: https://openaccess.thecvf.com/content/CVPR2022/papers/Fan_On_the_Instability_of_Relative_Pose_Estimation_and_RANSACs_Role_CVPR_2022_paper.pdf
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10851-019-00908-w
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Personalized LLM answers with IoT input data sourcesPersona da contattare:
MATTIA BRAMBILLAEmail:
mattia.brambilla@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Prof. Capone AntonioDescrizione
Descrizione:
Following the raising trend of AI, this thesis aims to integrate IoT sensor data into LLM prompts to enrich the input information and provide personalized answers. IoT sensors available in the IoTLab will be used as data sources, with their integration into a hub platform, and later embeddings into LLM prompts. LLM models accessible through API or locally installed will be compared and analyzed.
Nascondi Descrizione
Signal Processing and Learning for Near-Field 6G SystemsPersona da contattare:
MAROUAN MIZMIZIEmail:
marouan.mizmizi@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Descrizione
Descrizione:
As 6G networks evolve to use higher frequencies and larger MIMO arrays, communication will increasingly occur in the near-field, unlike today’s far-field systems. This shift has significant implications for how channels are modeled, estimated, and how communication systems are designed. Near-field communication introduces unique challenges, such as the need for new channel models that account for spatial variations over short distances and more complex, yet critical, channel estimation techniques. Precoding and equalization strategies must also be reimagined to address the non-uniform distribution of signals and the potential for increased interference in dense network environments.
This thesis will explore these challenges by developing advanced signal processing techniques tailored for near-field conditions in 6G networks. It will focus on improving channel modeling, estimation, precoding, and equalization for high-frequency, dense scenarios. Additionally, the research will investigate the use of machine learning to enhance these techniques, offering more adaptive and robust solutions. The goal is to make a significant contribution to 6G technology by addressing the critical challenges of near-field communication with both traditional and machine learning-based approaches.
Nascondi Descrizione
Shaping the Future of 6G Networks: Digital Twins, AI, and Advanced Wireless EmulationPersona da contattare:
FRANCESCO LINSALATAEmail:
francesco.linsalata@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria dell'Automazione, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Eugenio MoroDescrizione
Descrizione:
The increasing complexity of 6G networks requires advanced tools for accurate modeling, real-time optimization, and intelligent management. Digital Network Twins (DNTs) represent a transformative approach, providing precise digital replicas of physical networks to enable predictive analysis, performance optimization, and risk-free experimentation.
This thesis will explore the integration of AI and Machine Learning (ML) techniques with ray-based channel modeling to enhance the accuracy and adaptability of DNTs. By leveraging data-driven methodologies, the research aims to develop a framework capable of dynamically simulating and optimizing next-generation wireless networks.
This project is suitable for students with a strong interest in AI-driven network management, wireless communications, and the evolution of 6G technologies. While prior experience in simulation, emulation, or optimization is beneficial, it is not a prerequisite, making this an excellent opportunity to develop expertise in these areas.
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Exploring Security Vulnerabilities in the OpenTitan Framework: A Comprehensive Analysis and Testing ApproachPersona da contattare:
LUCA CASSANOEmail:
luca.cassano@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Elia LazzeriPagina Web:
https://cassano.faculty.polimi.it/Descrizione
Descrizione:
This work focuses on an in-depth security evaluation of the OpenTitan framework which is an open-source silicon root of trust designed to reinforce trusted computing on hardware-level systems. The research will begin with a thorough review of OpenTitan’s architecture, security features, and implementation details to identify potential weakness points. Building on this understanding, the project will employ systematic testing methods, including static code analysis, fuzzing, and hardware penetration testing, to uncover vulnerabilities and assess the impact of any discovered flaws on system integrity.
Nascondi Descrizione
Analysis of NASA's Core Flight System (cFS) Framework: An Application Case Study for Electro-Optical Payload Management on CubeSatsPersona da contattare:
LUCA CASSANOEmail:
luca.cassano@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
in collaboration with TDS-Space and the European Space AgencyPagina Web:
https://cassano.faculty.polimi.it/Descrizione
Descrizione:
The Core Flight System is an advanced software architecture based on the mission operation services of the CCSDS (Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems). Developed by NASA, this software is designed to support space operations and system integration for various aerospace missions, thanks to its modularity that allows updates similar to smartphone applications. NASA's cFS is a software framework intended to support space operations and system integration across diverse aerospace missions. Thesis/Internship Objectives: The thesis and internship activities are designed to investigate the effectiveness of NASA's Core Flight System (cFS) in managing electro-optical payloads on CubeSat platforms. This evaluation specifically focuses on the performance of the cFS when operational on a representative target computing platform for data handling and processing, developed by TSD-Space. Specifically, the focus will be on implementing a cFS application that manages image acquisition operations, integrating monitoring and control services performed through the cFS framework and the C programming language.
Nascondi Descrizione
Real-Time Onboard 2D Image Correlation System for Estimating and Compensating Instantaneous Focal Plane Motion: An FPGA implementationPersona da contattare:
LUCA CASSANOEmail:
luca.cassano@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
in collaboration with TDS-Space and the European Space AgencyPagina Web:
https://cassano.faculty.polimi.it/Descrizione
Descrizione:
The activities will be conducted in the framework of the FOPAC project, led by TSD-Space and founded by the Italian Space Agency. The FOPAC’s goal is to develop an active motion control system for the focal plane of electro-optical payloads adopted in Earth observation applications to enhance image quality in terms of spatial resolution and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR). These platforms often feature telescopes with limited focal length and aperture, and less accurate attitude control systems. FOPAC can be utilized for implementing active focal plane stabilization techniques and pixel-shifting acquisition mode. Active stabilization mitigates motion blur effects due to platform instability and enables the adoption of advanced Time Delay Integration (TDI) techniques for SNR improvements. The FOPAC project incorporates the implementation of real-time onboard 2D image correlation algorithms to estimate the instantaneous motion of the focal plane and stabilize it. This compensates for the limited attitude control performance of small platforms, which significantly impacts image quality. Focal plane stabilization, capable of compensating for platform jitter—a source of instability—allows for increased exposure times, thereby enhancing the SNR. Alternatively, with the same exposure time, it reduces motion blur, thus improving the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF). The primary activity of the candidate will be to explore and survey different approaches in 2D image correlation and motion estimation, focusing on new algorithms based on AI. The selected algorithm will be accelerated on an FPGA platform for real-time execution.
Nascondi Descrizione
Real-time onboard satellite image registration for Digital TDI: An FPGA ImplementationPersona da contattare:
LUCA CASSANOEmail:
luca.cassano@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
In collaboration with TDS-Space and the European Space AgencyPagina Web:
https://cassano.faculty.polimi.it/Descrizione
Descrizione:
In the field of Earth observation, the digital Time-Delay Integration (TDI) acquisition technique is crucial for enhancing the quality of satellite images. This method utilizes electro-optical payloads to capture sub-stripes or partially overlapping images. By digitally summing the signals encoded in the pixels of different sub-stripes that correspond to the same ground point, it
is possible to reduce uncorrelated noise and significantly increase signal amplitude. This process leads to a substantial improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and, consequently, the overall quality of the image. However, the digital TDI technique requires capturing multiple images of the same sample, thereby increasing the resources needed for data storage and transmission to ground stations. By performing digital TDI operations directly onboard the spacecraft, it is possible to drastically minimize the volume of data to be stored and maximize the efficiency of bandwidth use for downlink.
Digital TDI activity essentially includes image alignment, which is a prerequisite to ensure that the sum of signals occurs exclusively among pixels corresponding to the same ground sample. During the internship at TSD-Space, the candidate will explore various methods for digital image registration, including advanced approaches that incorporate artificial intelligence. The selected algorithm will be accelerated on an FPGA platform for real-time execution, significantly enhancing the effectiveness of the TDI process.
Nascondi Descrizione
Randomized based digital systems verificationPersona da contattare:
FABRIZIO FERRANDIEmail:
fabrizio.ferrandi@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
In collaboration with Analog Device, Milano ItalyDescrizione
Descrizione:
Digital design verification involves testing and confirming that a digital design or system is correct and functions properly before it is launched or used. The main objective of this process is to find and fix any design errors or bugs, ensuring that the system operates as intended in various conditions and scenarios.
Randomization is commonly used to generate test stimuli for digital verification-based approaches. It begins with constraints specifying the allowed values and utilizes a seed to generate the stimuli. In current industry practice, there is no standard approach to randomization, which often leads to the same constraints producing different stimuli across different simulation engines.
The thesis focuses on defining a portable randomizer that can connect to existing simulation engines, both free and commercial. This randomizer will intercept calls for randomization and deliver unique stimuli based solely on specified constraints and a seed value. The activity will be conducted in collaboration with the digital verification group at Analog Devices in Milan, Italy.
Nascondi Descrizione
Intrabody Communication: Exploring different technologies for Biomedical Data TransmissionPersona da contattare:
SILVIA MURAEmail:
silvia.mura@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria dell'Automazione, Ingegneria Biomedica, Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Maurizio MagariniDescrizione
Descrizione:
Intrabody communication (IBC) is a promising technique for secure and energy-efficient data transmission within the human body, with applications in biomedical devices, wearable sensors, and implantable systems. The exploration of different transmission methods, including terahertz (THz) waves, galvanic coupling, and ultrasounds, presents an opportunity to optimize performance for diverse medical and health monitoring applications. This research seeks to analyze the feasibility and efficiency of these communication techniques through a combination of simulations and experimental validation.
Nascondi Descrizione
UAV Trajectory Planning and Synchronization for Efficient Search and Rescue OperationsPersona da contattare:
SILVIA MURAEmail:
silvia.mura@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria dell'Automazione, Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Maurizio Magarini, Francesco Linsalata, Davide ScazzoliDescrizione
Descrizione:
This research focuses on advanced trajectory planning and synchronization techniques for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, in search and rescue operations. By optimizing flight paths, real-time communication, and coordinated movement, the study aims to enhance efficiency in locating and assisting individuals in distress. The thesis aims to integrate path optimization algorithms, obstacle avoidance mechanisms, and cooperative control strategies to ensure seamless multi-drone collaboration, even in complex and unpredictable environments. The findings will contribute to improving autonomous drone operations for emergency response and disaster management.
Nascondi Descrizione
Development of a Multi-Core RISC-V SoC for Harsh EnvironmentsPersona da contattare:
LUCA CASSANOEmail:
luca.cassano@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Dr. Luigi Dilillo (University of Montpellier, France)Pagina Web:
https://cassano.faculty.polimi.it/Descrizione
Descrizione:
Radiation-induced effects, such as Single Event Upsets (SEU) and Total Ionizing Dose (TID), pose significant challenges for electronic systems operating in space and other harsh environments. This internship will focus on extending an existing RISC-V-based System-on-Chip to a multi-core architecture in order to enhance performance and fault tolerance against radiation effects. The work involves modifying the existing VHDL design to support multiple cores, implementing inter-core communication and synchronization, and integrating fault-mitigation techniques. Candidates should have experience in VHDL, processor architecture, C programming, and microcontrollers.
Nascondi Descrizione
Exploiting GPU Microarchitectures for Novel Hardware Attacks: Investigating Memory Leaks and Arbitrary Code Execution Without Physical AccessPersona da contattare:
LUCA CASSANOEmail:
luca.cassano@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Elia LazzeriPagina Web:
https://cassano.faculty.polimi.it/Descrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis will investigate how modern Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) can be exploited to reveal sensitive data or run unauthorized code, all without requiring physical access or elevated permissions. By studying GPU-specific features, such as caching techniques, memory management, and parallel processing pipelines, the project aims to uncover new attack vectors and demonstrate them through proof-of-concept exploits. Finally, the research will suggest countermeasures and improved design strategies to enhance GPU security against these emerging threats.
Nascondi Descrizione
Development of a Linux Kernel Module for Fault Injection in ProcessorsPersona da contattare:
LUCA CASSANOEmail:
luca.cassano@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Elia LazzeriPagina Web:
https://cassano.faculty.polimi.it/Descrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis aims to develop a Linux kernel module enabling fault injection into selected processes or programs running on a processor. The tool will simulate adverse conditions, such as ionizing radiation, that affect memory and computation. The solution may involve a kernel module, a small fork, or a patch to the Linux kernel, allowing controlled or random fault injection for automated and repeatable testing. The system will help evaluate application resilience to faults and will include a configurable logging mechanism at multiple levels to track performance and events.
Nascondi Descrizione
Optimization Algorithms for Continual Deep LearningPersona da contattare:
FABRIZIO PITTORINOEmail:
fabrizio.pittorino@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Pagina Web:
https://www.deib.polimi.it/eng/people/details/1696874Descrizione
Descrizione:
In this thesis project, we will investigate optimization algorithms for deep learning with a focus on continual learning, aiming to develop robust, adaptive training strategies that mitigate catastrophic forgetting in neural networks and enhance model performance across evolving tasks. This project explores Efficient, no-waste ML scenarios, optimizing energy usage and memory footprint, with possible applications to resource-constrained environments, employing both algorithmic and hardware considerations.
Nascondi Descrizione
Auditing social media platforms for Teen usage via sockpuppet accountsPersona da contattare:
FRANCESCO PIERRIEmail:
francesco.pierri@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Pagina Web:
pierri.faculty.polimi.itDescrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis explores the use of automated and human-operated sockpuppet accounts to audit social media platforms’ policies and practices regarding teen users. It proposes a methodology for systematically testing age verification, exposure to harmful content, and engagement-driven algorithmic biases. By combining experimental digital ethnography with LLM-assisted content analysis, the research evaluates platform compliance, risk factors, and potential regulatory gaps.
Nascondi Descrizione
Understanding memes with Large Language ModelsPersona da contattare:
FRANCESCO PIERRIEmail:
francesco.pierri@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Pagina Web:
pierri.faculty.polimi.itDescrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis investigates the application of large language models (LLMs) to analyze internet memes, leveraging KnowYourMeme.com as a structured dataset. It proposes a framework for categorizing memes based on linguistic, visual, and cultural features, assessing their evolution, virality, and ideological impact. By applying natural language processing, semiotic analysis, and network modeling, the study aims to decode how memes propagate, adapt, and influence digital discourse.
Nascondi Descrizione
Impact of dataset reuse in web and data miningPersona da contattare:
FRANCESCO PIERRIEmail:
francesco.pierri@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Pagina Web:
pierri.faculty.polimi.itDescrizione
Descrizione:
Publicly shared datasets are crucial for research in web and data mining, yet their reuse remains understudied. Many conferences now feature dataset or resource tracks, highlighting the growing importance of data sharing. This project seeks to quantify dataset reuse by analyzing research papers, tracking dataset mentions, and identifying key trends in adoption. We aim to determine which datasets are most influential and what factors impact their reuse, such as accessibility and documentation. Understanding these patterns will inform best practices for dataset sharing and encourage greater transparency in research.
Nascondi Descrizione
Exploiting Software Obfuscation to prevent Transient Execution Attacks in RISC-V processorsPersona da contattare:
LUCA CASSANOEmail:
luca.cassano@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Elia LazzeriPagina Web:
https://cassano.faculty.polimi.it/Descrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis focuses on the design and development of software obfuscation engine to enhance the security of computing systems. The idea is to modify the control and data flows of a program in order to make Transient Execution Attacks like Spectre and Meltdown more difficult to be executed or even impossible.
Nascondi Descrizione
Real-Time Heart Signal Anomaly Detection and Prevention Using Radar TechnologyPersona da contattare:
SILVIA MURAEmail:
silvia.mura@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria dell'Automazione, Ingegneria Biomedica, Ingegneria Elettrica, Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Francesco LinsalataDescrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis focuses on developing algorithms to detect anomalies in heartbeat signals captured by radar, with an emphasis on decoupling cardiac signals from respiration to enhance detection accuracy. The research incorporates Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), enabling radar systems to seamlessly combine physiological monitoring with communication functionality.
The student will design and implement methods for detecting or preventing heart rate anomalies, such as arrhythmias, and validate their performance through measurement campaigns using real radar data. The ultimate goal is to deliver a low-complexity, real-time solution for healthcare applications and preventative monitoring.
Nascondi Descrizione
Semantic Signal Reconstruction for Restoring Nerve Signal PropagationPersona da contattare:
SILVIA MURAEmail:
silvia.mura@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria dell'Automazione, Ingegneria Biomedica, Ingegneria Elettrica, Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Maurizio MagariniDescrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis explores a novel approach to restoring nerve function through semantic signal reconstruction, designed to act as a relay system for damaged nerves. By focusing on the "semantic meaning" of neural signals—the critical information necessary for physiological responses—this method bypasses the need to replicate the entire signal, enabling efficient and targeted signal propagation across injured sections. The work emphasizes low-complexity algorithms and real-time processing, making the approach suitable for implantable devices like cuff electrodes. These devices capture, interpret, and regenerate nerve signals, ensuring seamless communication despite nerve damage.
Nascondi Descrizione
Simulating social media platforms with LLMsPersona da contattare:
FRANCESCO PIERRIEmail:
francesco.pierri@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Pagina Web:
pierri.faculty.polimi.itDescrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis explores using LLMs to simulate social media interactions, enabling controlled studies of digital discourse, misinformation, and user behavior. It proposes a framework for generating artificial social media environments, analyzing emergent behaviors, and assessing realism. The research applies reinforcement learning and network analysis to model interactions, offering insights for policy-making, marketing, and cybersecurity. The study aims to enhance understanding of algorithmic influence, misinformation spread, and engagement patterns in online communities.
Nascondi Descrizione
5G-enabled passive radar for detecting unauthorized dronesPersona da contattare:
MAURIZIO MAGARINIEmail:
maurizio.magarini@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria dell'Automazione, Ingegneria Elettrica, Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Davide ScazzoliDescrizione
Descrizione:
The goal of the proposed master's thesis is to investigate the detection of unauthorized drones using a passive bistatic radar (PBR) system that leverages a 5G base station as the transmitter. This method utilizes existing infrastructure, making it a cost-effective solution for drone surveillance. The detection process involves modeling the communication environment between the 5G base station and the drone, and analyzing the signals reflected from the drone. A crucial aspect of the study is calculating the Radar Cross Section (RCS) to measure how the drone scatters radar signals. By combining signal analysis with RCS calculations, the system can detect small, agile drones in complex environments. The thesis evaluates the system's performance with a specific drone model under various conditions, demonstrating that integrating PBR with 5G networks can effectively detect and track unauthorized drones, enhancing security in critical areas.
Nascondi Descrizione
Cellular infrastructure for weather monitoringPersona da contattare:
DARIO TAGLIAFERRIEmail:
dario.tagliaferri@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria dell'Automazione, Ingegneria Biomedica, Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Descrizione
Descrizione:
The thesis aims at studying the potential of the cellular infrastructure for the retrieval and monitoring of rain.
The goal of the work is to investigate the potential of the cellular network to be use for weather forecasting, towards greener environments.
The student will learn how to model and process the cellular signals to estimate the rain precipitation rate, and validate the simulations on experimental data acquired with a 5G cellular base station.
Nascondi Descrizione
LEO satellites for communication and environment monitoringPersona da contattare:
DARIO TAGLIAFERRIEmail:
dario.tagliaferri@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria dell'Automazione, Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Francesco LinsalataDescrizione
Descrizione:
Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, e.g., Starlink, will be a keystone in future 6G non-terrestrial wireless networks. In addition to the communication functionality, LEO fleets can also serve for accurate Earth monitoring, with applications ranging from infrastucture monitoring, public security, surveillance and environmental reconstruction.
The thesis consists of exploring the use of LEO satellites to jointly ensure broadcast connectivity while obtain an accurate environment mapping.
The work will involve practical activities within the framework of the PNRR project "RESTART".
Nascondi Descrizione
AI for Cooperative Perception in Vehicular Radar NetworksPersona da contattare:
DARIO TAGLIAFERRIEmail:
dario.tagliaferri@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria dell'Automazione, Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Descrizione
Descrizione:
The road towards autonomous driving expects vehicles will be equipped with more and more heterogeneous sensors (cameras, lidars, radars, sonars) to perceive the surroundings. Cameras and lidars are the golden standard for autonomous driving, providing high-resolution representations of the environment, but they are sensitive to illumination levels and weather conditions (fog, rain,etc).
Radars, instead, are robust to adverse weather conditions, but are typically characterized by low spatial resolution in the description of the environment and they are currently used for limited purpose (emergency braking).
To improve the reliability of the perception of the environment, future autonomous vehicles are expected to mutually cooperate, exchanging local measurements and features to augment perception.
The thesis aims at using artificial intelligence for cooperative perception based on radars. In particular, the goal of the thesis is to investigate novel AI architectures for aligning, synchronizing and fusing radar images generated at the single vehicles. The proposed thesis can be specialized to generic distributed radar networks, e.g., made of drones.
Nascondi Descrizione
Integrated sensing and communication for future 6G wireless systems in the upper mid-bandPersona da contattare:
DARIO TAGLIAFERRIEmail:
dario.tagliaferri@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Marco MezzavillaPagina Web:
Pi-Radio website: https://www.pi-rad.io/homeDescrizione
Descrizione:
Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) systems combine wireless communication and radar sensing capabilities within the same infrastructure. These systems leverage shared hardware, spectrum, and signal processing techniques to perform tasks like data transmission and environmental sensing simultaneously. ISAC enables applications such as autonomous driving, smart cities, publoc safety and surveillance. It is acquainted that the next generation (6G) of wireless systems will use the so-called upper mid-band (6-24 GHz), currently not used for communication systems. The upper mid-band that offer large bandwidth over a wide range of frequencies, opening the striking possibility of centimeter-level environment sensing and unprecedented .
The thesis aims at addressing the innovative design of an ISAC systems in the future 6G frequencies. The student can choose to address the 6G ISAC from the methodological perspective , finding new ways to integrate communication and sensing over multiple disaggregated bandwidths, or developing custom signal processing algorithms that can be validated with in-lab experimental measurements with the Pi-Radio hardware.
Nascondi Descrizione
Exploring Bluesky's Role in Decentralized Social Media EcosystemsPersona da contattare:
FRANCESCO PIERRIEmail:
francesco.pierri@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Pagina Web:
pierri.faculty.polimi.itDescrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis investigates Bluesky, a decentralized social media initiative, as a transformative platform within the digital communication landscape. The research aims to assess Bluesky's technological foundation, its impact on user autonomy, and its potential to disrupt traditional, centralized social media monopolies. This study will analyze Bluesky's technical architecture, user experience, and community-driven governance to determine its viability as a sustainable alternative to current platforms like Twitter or Facebook.
Nascondi Descrizione
Exploration of custom floating-point accelerators through evolutionary design methodsPersona da contattare:
SERENA CURZELEmail:
serena.curzel@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Descrizione
Descrizione:
The open-source HLS tool Bambu, developed at Polimi, features a framework to customize floating-point encodings and obtain more efficient FPGA/ASIC accelerators (see https://hdl.handle.net/11311/1254959). The objective of this thesis is to use evolutionary design methods to select the best possible encoding for a given application under a given target accuracy.
Nascondi Descrizione
Predictive Smart Irrigation Systems for Optimizing Plant Health Using Electrophysiological and Environmental Sensors with Deep LearningPersona da contattare:
IMEN BEKKARIEmail:
imen.bekkari@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria dell'Automazione, Ingegneria Biomedica, Ingegneria Elettrica, Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica, Ingegneria delle Telecomunicazioni
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Imen BekkariDescrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis aims to develop a predictive smart irrigation system by integrating electrophysiological sensors, electronic noses, and environmental sensors to monitor and analyze plant health. The model will optimize irrigation practices through neural networks to enhance water efficiency and promote sustainable agriculture in controlled and natural environments.
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User-Centric IT Sustainability – Balancing Environmental Impact and User Experience in Adaptive Web ApplicationsPersona da contattare:
MONICA VITALIEmail:
monica.vitali@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Descrizione
Descrizione:
The urgent need to reduce environmental impact has driven IT providers to reevaluate the management and allocation of physical resources for applications. While infrastructure-focused solutions have been prioritized, application developers also play a key role in achieving greener IT by designing applications that adapt dynamically to the availability of renewable energy. This flexibility, however, introduces a trade-off between environmental impact and user experience. For instance, a task could be executed in multiple ways, each with a different computational and energy cost, where the optimal version might be selected based on the availability of renewable energy sources. Such a selection, however, could influence the user experience and, subsequently, customer satisfaction.
This thesis seeks to understand this balance by taking a user-centric approach to IT sustainability, investigating which strategies can encourage consumers to actively support sustainable choices. Specifically, we aim to explore two key research questions:
- What factors influence users when they face a trade-off between sustainability and user experience?
- Can heightened sustainability awareness among consumers make them more receptive to minor reductions in user experience?
Our research will involve user studies to identify the actions and types of information that increase users’ willingness to accept slight QoS trade-offs for sustainability gains. By examining user preferences and the impact of sustainability-awareness strategies, this thesis will provide insights into how consumers can be empowered to support greener applications.
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Balancing Privacy, Utility, and Sustainability: A Comparative Analysis of Synthetic Data Generation and Traditional Privacy-Preserving TechniquesPersona da contattare:
MONICA VITALIEmail:
monica.vitali@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Descrizione
Descrizione:
Generative AI enables the creation of synthetic datasets that can address privacy concerns in sensitive data contexts, such as healthcare, finance, and social science research. By generating artificial data that mimics real data distributions without disclosing individual data points, these synthetic datasets promise a powerful alternative to traditional privacy-preserving methods like differential privacy and anonymization. However, this approach comes at an environmental cost. The creation and training of generative models require substantial computational resources, leading to significant energy consumption and, consequently, a notable carbon footprint. At the same time, traditional privacy-preserving methods are not without energy demands, particularly when applied to large and complex datasets. Thus, understanding the trade-offs in energy consumption, utility, and privacy risk between these approaches is crucial for sustainable and effective data privacy practices.
The primary objective of this thesis is to conduct a comprehensive comparison of the environmental and practical implications of synthetic dataset generation and traditional privacy-preserving techniques. This study will focus on three key areas: (1) energy consumption, measured through computational load and resource demands; (2) "fit to use," or the utility and fidelity of the datasets in maintaining representational accuracy; and (3) the risk profile, assessing each method’s effectiveness in safeguarding privacy.
The findings of this thesis will contribute to the emerging discourse on sustainable AI by providing data-driven insights into the environmental impact of privacy-preserving data practices. Given the increasing adoption of AI in sensitive fields and the rising concerns over its carbon footprint, this research aims to offer guidance on balancing data utility, privacy, and environmental responsibility.
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AI’s Hidden Footprint: What It Really Takes to Power Large Language Models Like ChatGPTPersona da contattare:
MONICA VITALIEmail:
monica.vitali@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Descrizione
Descrizione:
Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are increasingly integrated into our daily lives, from assisting with information retrieval and content creation. As their popularity grows, so does the demand for training these models on massive datasets and frequently updating them in response to the evolving nature of knowledge. However, the computational requirements for training and updating LLMs results in considerable energy consumption. This raises concerns over the sustainability of data centers, especially as they strive to achieve carbon neutrality in the coming years.
Unlike traditional machine learning models, LLMs impose a continuous environmental impact that extends beyond the training phase. The inference phase, where models generate responses in real-time to meet high user demand, is similarly energy-intensive, often consuming as much or more power as training due to the computational complexity of each generated response. A balance between LLMs performance and sustainability needs to be studied to mitigate their environmental impact.
This thesis aims to systematically analyze the energy consumption patterns of popular LLMs, identifying key factors that drive their computational and environmental costs. We will evaluate the impact of various fine-tuning techniques on power consumption, investigating the trade-offs between model accuracy, efficiency, and resource demands.
Additionally, this study will develop a predictive model to estimate the energy consumption of both the training and inference phases for LLMs. This model aims to provide actionable insights to model developers and end-users alike, fostering awareness about the environmental footprint of using LLMs and encouraging more sustainable practices in AI deployment. Ultimately, this research will contribute to a better understanding of how we can optimize LLM usage while minimizing their ecological impact, helping to align technological advancement with environmental responsibility.
Nascondi Descrizione
Empowering Sustainable Applications to Reduce Data Center Environmental ImpactPersona da contattare:
MONICA VITALIEmail:
monica.vitali@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Descrizione
Descrizione:
As the demand for computational resources accelerates, the environmental impact of data centers is becoming increasingly significant. Efforts to address this impact have largely focused on infrastructural solutions, such as improving data center cooling efficiency, optimizing hardware, and transitioning to renewable energy sources. However, this infrastructure-centric approach overlooks an essential dimension: application design and development. Applications themselves, if designed with sustainability in mind, can play a pivotal role in reducing resource consumption and enhancing data center efficiency. This thesis proposes a framework that engages application designers and developers in creating adaptive, sustainable applications to contribute to greener, more environmentally-friendly cloud ecosystems.
This research introduces a novel architecture aimed at embedding sustainability features directly into cloud-native application components and provides a pathway for applications to dynamically adapt their workflows in response to environmental and resource constraints, enabling real-time adjustments based on available energy sources, data center load, and sustainability targets.
The proposed framework will focus on integrating sustainability as a core element in the design and development phases. Specifically, we will explore techniques for embedding adaptability features into application components, allowing them to modify their operations based on environmental conditions, such as shifting processing loads during times of low energy availability or optimizing computational intensity during peak periods. This approach moves beyond static, infrastructure-focused sustainability measures, paving the way for applications that can actively contribute to environmental goals.
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Cascaded Foundation Models for the Segmentation of Abdominal OrgansPersona da contattare:
ANDREA MOGLIAEmail:
andrea.moglia@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Biomedica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Pietro Cerveri; Luca MainardiPagina Web:
https://www.deib.polimi.it/eng/people/details/1991524Descrizione
Descrizione:
Multimodal large language models (MLLMs) were proposed over the last two years to generate text output from a prompt combining different input types, for instance, text and images. If applied to medicine, they are expected to generate new applications to support clinicians, e.g. in the decision-making when a medical doctor needs advice from a more experienced colleague. Some MLLMs specific to the medical domain were developed, like LLaVA-Med, PeFoMed, and Med-Flamingo. However, those MLLMs can only be used for visual question answering but not other tasks, like image segmentation, which is a critical component in clinical practice, facilitating accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and disease progress monitoring. Segment Anything Model (SAM) was developed as the first foundational model for the segmentation of natural images. SAM automatically generates segmentation masks by selecting a point, drawing a bounding box around objects to segment, or even using a text prompt. SAM was not specifically developed for medical images, e.g., computed tomography scans, which are traditionally more challenging. Initial studies have shown that its performance was lower than that of deep learning models in the segmentation task of medical images. However, the recent release of MedSAM, a fine-tuned version of SAM on an unprecedented quantity and variety of datasets for medical images, outperforming state-of-the-art deep learning models, disrupted the field. Medical SAM 2, based on SAM 2, outperformed deep learning models, SAM-based ones, and even MedSAM in medical image segmentation.
This thesis work aims to combine MLLMs and foundation models like MedSAM/ Medical SAM 2 to build a tool enabling users to type a prompt like “Segment the pancreas” and visualize the segmentation mask. This thesis will build upon a recent research work at the Politecnico di Milano on a fine-tuned MLLM outputting a bounding box for the localization of the pancreas, given a question like “Where is the pancreas”. The automatically generated bounding box could serve as a prompt for MedSAM/Medical SAM 2 to segment the abdominal organs. Since current MLLMs need improvements in the localization of medical organs, the student(s) will need to optimize the MLLM architecture, for instance by replacing the vision encoder with a novel component, like MedNeXt .
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Machine Learning for Quantum ComputingPersona da contattare:
MAURIZIO FERRARI DACREMAEmail:
maurizio.ferrari@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Riccardo Nembrini; Riccardo Pellini; Gloria Turati; Paolo CremonesiPagina Web:
https://mauriziofd.github.io/Descrizione
Descrizione:
Quantum Computing (QC) has the potential to shape the future of high performance computing and Machine Learning (ML) applications thanks to the speed-ups it promises for certain tasks. However, ML techniques can also help to overcome some of QC's current technological limitations. This research aims to study how QC and ML can be best combined in practice and how they can be of help to each other. Examples of topics are the development of ML methods to design and optimize quantum circuits for specific architectures.
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Good graphs versus bad graphs in 3D reconstructionPersona da contattare:
FEDERICA ARRIGONIEmail:
federica.arrigoni@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Descrizione
Descrizione:
A powerful tool to study and solve relevant problems in Computer Vision (and, more precisely, in the sub-field of multi-view geometry) is representing cameras/images and their pairwise relations as vertices and edges of a graph. In this context, a prominent problem is 3D reconstruction from images and a relevant question is the following: which graphs are good and which graphs are bad for 3D reconstruction? This thesis will develop novel methods aimed at answering this question. A strong mathematical background is preferred but not mandatory. Reference: F. Arrigoni, A. Fusiello, T. Pajdla. A direct approach to viewing graph solvability. ECCV 2024
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Fast simulation of a CPU+FPGA system through open-source toolsPersona da contattare:
SERENA CURZELEmail:
serena.curzel@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Descrizione
Descrizione:
The goal of this thesis is to improve the design of FPGA-accelerated systems by building a faster simulation environment than the one provided by AMD/Xilinx, building upon existing open-source tools such as gem5 and Bambu HLS. Knowledge of hardware design is not required (but it could help).
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Development of Novel Transient Execution Attacks (TEAs): Exploiting Microarchitectural VulnerabilitiesPersona da contattare:
LUCA CASSANOEmail:
luca.cassano@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Pagina Web:
https://cassano.faculty.polimi.it/Descrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis investigates the development of new transient execution attacks (TEAs) that exploit microarchitectural vulnerabilities in modern processors. The research will focus on identifying weaknesses in the execution pipeline, speculative execution mechanisms, and related hardware features, demonstrating how these can be leveraged to bypass traditional security measures. Additionally, the thesis will aim to propose countermeasures and mitigations to defend against these emerging threats, enhancing the security of future processor architectures.
Nascondi Descrizione
Development of Novel Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs)Persona da contattare:
LUCA CASSANOEmail:
luca.cassano@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Pagina Web:
https://cassano.faculty.polimi.it/Descrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis focuses on the design and development of new Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) to enhance the security of computing systems. The research will explore innovative TEE architectures that provide improved protection for sensitive data and operations, particularly in embedded systems, ensuring that security is maintained even in the presence of malicious attacks (Transient Execution Attacks like Spectre and Meltdown, for example) or software vulnerabilities.
Nascondi Descrizione
Design of Integrated GPU Architectures for RISC-V System-on-Chip (SoC) PlatformsPersona da contattare:
LUCA CASSANOEmail:
luca.cassano@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Pagina Web:
https://cassano.faculty.polimi.it/Descrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis explores the development of new integrated GPU architectures within RISC-V SoC platforms. By designing GPU modules that are seamlessly integrated with the RISC-V architecture, the research will focus on improving graphical processing efficiency and enabling more powerful and energy-efficient SoC solutions for diverse applications.
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Analysis and Improvement of RISC-V Memory Models: Performance Limitations and BottlenecksPersona da contattare:
LUCA CASSANOEmail:
luca.cassano@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Pagina Web:
https://cassano.faculty.polimi.it/Descrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis will conduct a comprehensive study of the RISC-V memory models, identifying potential performance limitations and bottlenecks. The research will aim to propose improvements that can enhance memory management, consistency, and overall system performance, with a focus on scalability and reliability in complex computing environments.
Nascondi Descrizione
Development of Machine Learning for Real-Time Error Detection and Attack Prevention in RISC-V Processors Based on System MeasurementsPersona da contattare:
LUCA CASSANOEmail:
luca.cassano@polimi.it Corso di studio in Ingegneria Elettronica, Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Pagina Web:
https://cassano.faculty.polimi.it/Descrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis focuses on developing a machine learning (ML) system for detecting errors and potential attacks in real-time by analyzing various system measurements, including microarchitectural data. The research will explore which system metrics are most effective for accurate detection and how the ML system can interact directly with hardware to perform error correction, reconfiguration, or deactivation in response to detected issues.
Nascondi Descrizione
Compiler-assisted real-time schedulingPersona da contattare:
FEDERICO REGHENZANIEmail:
federico.reghenzani@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Descrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis wants to explore the possibility to use the compiler to provide scheduling hints to the real-time operating system, especially on the Worst-Case Execution Time (WCET). This thesis aims at modying the open source LLVM compiler to instrument the final code with proper mechanisms.
Please contact me for further details.
Nascondi Descrizione
Real-time scheduling for SIHFT approachesPersona da contattare:
FEDERICO REGHENZANIEmail:
federico.reghenzani@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Descrizione
Descrizione:
This thesis aims at studying novel scheduling approaches for real-time operating systems that run Software-Implemented Hardware Fault Tolerance (SIHFT) mechanisms. SIHFT are a set of techniques that detect and recover from hardware faults by using software methods. However, their computational overhead is huge and novel scheduling algorithms must be invented to efficiently schedule the real-time tasks.
The thesis is highly innovative and composed of both theoretical and practical parts. The scheduling algorithm will be implemented and tested on a real system.
No particular pre-requisites exist other than being self-motivated: the background of any POLIMI student will be sufficient. The programming language that will be used to implement the scheduler is C.
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[Tesi senza Controrelatore] Analysis and comparison of real-time performance of GPGPU librariesPersona da contattare:
FEDERICO REGHENZANIEmail:
federico.reghenzani@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Altri membri del gruppo di ricerca:
Tomas Antonio LopezDescrizione
Descrizione:
Using the GPU for general-purpose computing (GPGPU) has become common in many fields thanks to the parallelism of GPU and the emerging of novel applications. Some systems are, however, safety-critical systems with strict timing and functional correctness requirements to be satisfied. This thesis will analyse the available libraries for GPGPU in terms of real-time performance with a special focus to open source safety-critical libraries.
Please contact me for further details.
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Design fault recovery strategies for FreeRTOSPersona da contattare:
FEDERICO REGHENZANIEmail:
federico.reghenzani@polimi.it Corso di Studio in Ingegneria Informatica
Pagina Web:
https://reghenzani.faculty.polimi.it/Descrizione
Descrizione:
Embedded systems are often subject to reliability requirements against transient faults that usually occur due to high-energy particles striking memory cells and causing data corruption. This is a problem in space applications, where the atmosphere and the magnetic field of the Earth have a lower shield effect, but it is also a problem on Earth for safety-critical applications. In current research projects, we developed a mechanism to detect faults occurring not only in the application but also in the operating system, specifically FreeRTOS. The objective of this thesis would be to implement novel mechanisms to perform the recovery of such faults occurring in the operating systems.
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