ADC Evaluation for Energy-Efficient Sensor Data Acquisition

• Typ der Arbeit: Forschungsprojekt
• Status der Arbeit: offen
• Betreuer: Davis Rakhshan

TL;DR

Evaluate a new ADC as a potential replacement for the ADC currently used in an embedded sensor system. Compare both solutions in terms of signal quality, sampling performance, energy consumption, and the quality of acquired sensor data.

Motivation

The analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is a central component of an embedded sensor system and directly influences signal quality, achievable sampling rates, and energy consumption.

Our existing sensor platform currently uses an established ADC for acquiring sensor data. A newer ADC IC may provide advantages such as improved signal quality, higher sampling rates, or lower energy consumption. However, datasheet specifications alone do not show how these differences translate to the complete sensor system and, ultimately, to the acquired data.

This thesis investigates whether the new ADC provides a meaningful advantage over the currently used solution through systematic experimental evaluation and data analysis.

Research Question

How does the new ADC compare with the currently used ADC in terms of signal quality, sampling performance, energy consumption, and quality of the acquired sensor data?

Scope

The thesis combines embedded-system development, experimental measurements, and data analysis. The exact experiments and evaluation metrics will be refined together with the student during the project.

The work will include:

• Integration and configuration of the new ADC in the existing sensor system
• Development of a reproducible measurement and data-acquisition setup
• Characterisation of relevant ADC properties such as noise, sampling performance, and signal quality
• Measurement and comparison of energy consumption under different operating conditions
• Acquisition of representative sensor data with both ADCs
• Signal-processing and statistical analysis of the acquired data
• Systematic comparison of both solutions and recommendation for future versions of the sensor platform

The project should fulfil agreed milestones covering ADC integration, experimental characterisation, sensor-data evaluation, and final system-level comparison.

Expected Outcome

At the end of the thesis, both ADC solutions should be characterised under comparable conditions. The work should provide a quantitative understanding of the trade-offs between signal quality, sampling performance, and energy consumption, as well as a recommendation on whether and under which conditions the new ADC should be used in the sensor system.

Required Skills

Required

• Python for data processing, analysis, and visualisation
• Basic knowledge of digital signal processing
• Basic understanding of electronics and embedded systems
• Interest in experimental work and quantitative data analysis
• Ability to work independently and document results clearly

Desirable

• Experience with C/C++ and microcontrollers
• Familiarity with ADCs and data-acquisition systems
• Experience with NumPy, SciPy, Pandas, MATLAB, or similar tools
• Experience with laboratory measurement equipment
• Knowledge of statistics or experimental design
• Experience with Git and LaTeX

Prior experience with all of the desirable skills is not required. Relevant hardware and embedded-system knowledge can be acquired during the project.

Deliverables

• Written thesis
• Reproducible firmware, measurement, and analysis code
• Experimental evaluation and comparison of both ADCs
• Final presentation

Application

Please include:

• Curriculum vitae
• Current transcript of records
• Short description of your motivation and relevant experience

Please keep your application concise. A CV, transcript of records, and a short description of your motivation and relevant experience are sufficient. Lengthy motivation letters or extensive application documents are neither required nor encouraged.