EE - Testing Platform Design for Emerging Devices and Circuits

Project Title: Testing Platform Design for Emerging Devices and Circuits

Project Description:

This project focuses on developing a versatile testing platform with custom-designed PCBs to evaluate emerging memory devices, artificial intelligence (AI) computation circuits, and advanced technologies such as FerrorFET. The goal is to expedite the testing process for new devices by providing an adaptable, high-throughput platform that ensures accurate performance validation across various conditions. The platform will be designed for scalability and modularity to accommodate different device prototypes, ensuring flexibility and rapid testing.

Key aspects of the platform design will include support for complex signal routing, variable power supply, precise measurement instruments, and thermal management. It will enable efficient testing of device characteristics such as power consumption, latency, endurance, and error rates, crucial for memory devices, AI accelerators, and FerrorFET-based circuits.

Required Skills for PCB Circuit Design:

  • Circuit Design & Schematic Capture: Proficiency in tools like Altium Designer or KiCad for complex analog and digital circuit design.
  • PCB Layout & Routing: Experience with multi-layer PCB layout, high-speed signal routing, and thermal management.
  • Testing & Debugging: Expertise in using oscilloscopes, multimeters, and signal analyzers for validation.
  • Simulation & Modeling: Knowledge of SPICE or similar tools for circuit simulation and modeling.
  • Prototyping & Fabrication: Skills in prototyping, including PCB fabrication and assembly.
  • Emerging Device Knowledge: Familiarity with emerging memory technologies, AI computation hardware, and FerrorFET characteristics.

Expected Results:

  • Validated Testing Platform: A robust and adaptable PCB platform for testing memory devices, AI computation circuits, and FerrorFET.
  • Performance Data: Detailed performance metrics such as latency, power consumption, and endurance for the devices tested.
  • Reduced Testing Time: A platform that accelerates testing and optimization, supporting quicker development cycles for new devices.

This platform will be an essential tool for advancing the development of next-generation memory devices and AI hardware.

Name of research group, project, or lab
Circuit and System Intelligence Research Lab
Why join this research group or lab?

Cutting-Edge Research Focus

The CSIR Lab is at the forefront of designing advanced circuits and systems for hardware-efficient machine learning. Their work spans across:

  • Analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuits
  • Machine learning architectures
  • AI algorithms

This interdisciplinary approach combines traditional circuit design with modern AI techniques, creating a unique and innovative research environment.

Relevance to Human-AI Ecosystems

The lab's research is highly relevant to current technological challenges, addressing critical areas such as:

  • Machine learning acceleration
  • Security and privacy in AI systems
  • Explainable AI
  • Human-AI collaboration

These topics are of paramount importance as AI becomes increasingly integrated into various aspects of society.

Logistics Information:
Project categories
Electrical Engineering
Student ranks applicable
Junior
Senior
Graduate Student
Hours per week
1 credit / 3-6 hours
Compensation
Research for Credit
Number of openings
2
Contact Information:
Mentor
ncao@nd.edu
Assistant Professor
Name of project director or principal investigator
Ningyuan Cao
Email address of project director or principal investigator
ncao@nd.edu
2 sp. | 2 appl.
Hours per week
1 credit / 3-6 hours
Project categories
Electrical Engineering