Our company is developing a hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) framework that connects MATLAB models to a Zynq‑based FPGA platform via Ethernet. This setup enables near real‑time testing of RF/PHY functionality and allows MATLAB algorithm developers to validate their work without waiting for full hardware integration. The goal is to build a lightweight, OS‑less (or minimal) FPGA system that can exchange packets efficiently with MATLAB and provide direct access to FPGA registers/ internal signals through Ethernet. This HIL setup will accelerate our development cycle and serve as a reusable platform for future projects. 

Your Mission🚀 

As a Master’s thesis student, you will: 

• Develop a MATLAB ↔ FPGA Ethernet communication interface for transmitting raw samples and control messages. 
• Implement bare‑metal or minimal runtime on Zynq to avoid OS overhead and ensure deterministic packet flow. 
• Explore the use of a secondary SFP/Ethernet interface for debug packet capture. 
• Validate RF/PHY functionality by comparing FPGA output with MATLAB models. 
• Deliver a reusable HIL setup supporting future system bring-up and prototyping. 
• Verify/Validate the system with CocoTB. 

• Final-year Master of Engineering (EE/Embedded/FPGA).
• FPGA design (VHDL/Verilog) and building testbenches with cocotb. 
• MATLAB scripting and modeling. 
• Good understanding of digital communications. 
• Basic knowledge of Ethernet networking. 

Nice to have: Zynq/Vivado experience, bare‑metal programming, AXI interfaces, Digital communication basics. 

What You Will Learn🚀

• FPGA system design and real-time communication. 
• Zynq SoC development (RTL + bare-metal software). 
• MATLAB–FPGA co-simulation workflows. 
• Ethernet protocols and packet interface design. 
• RF/PHY-level testing and validation methodology. 

Why This Project Matters 

This HIL framework will remove slowdowns caused by cross‑team dependencies and long hardware bring-up cycles. MATLAB modeling takes days, while FPGA development can take weeks or months—this project enables both to progress independently and much faster. 

If you're enthusiastic about FPGA, communication systems, and hands-on real hardware development, we want to hear from you!