Thesis/Project Final Defense Schedule

Join us as the School of STEM master’s degree candidates present their culminating thesis and project work. The schedule is updated throughout the quarter, check back for new defenses.

View previous quarter schedules

Select a master’s program to navigate to candidates:

Master of Science in Computer Science & Software Engineering

AUTUMN 2024

Monday, October 14

YANG YU

Chair: Dr. Yang Peng
Candidate: Master of Science in Computer Science & Software Engineering
9:00 A.M.; Join Yang Yu’s Online Defense
Project: Design and Development of a Scalable Communication Plane for Efficient TinyML Model Deployment on IoT Devices

This project focuses on designing and developing an efficient model deployment service for TinyML on IoT devices. The system addresses the critical challenges of scalability, end-to-end communication, and model deployment in resource-constrained environments. The proposed solution provides flexibility for various IoT use cases by incorporating both device-as-client and device-as-server operation modes. The device-as-client mode allows edge devices to check with a central server for new models periodically. In contrast, the device-as-server mode enables real-time model deployment via a lightweight HTTP server running on the edge devices.

A key feature of the system is the Over-The-Air (OTA) download update mechanism, which allows remote models to be updated, thus reducing the need for physical device access. The combination of HTTP server processing of requests and the integration of heartbeat monitoring and Redis-based data management enhances the system’s robustness. It ensures efficient communication between devices and servers. Performance evaluations have shown that the system can handle large-scale deployments while maintaining low-latency, energy-efficient operation. Future work may include further optimizations for scalability, model versioning, and enhanced security protocols to better support more extensive and complex IoT systems.

Friday, October 25

SHENG WANG

Chair: Dr. Yang Peng
Candidate: Master of Science in Computer Science & Software Engineering
1:00 P.M.; Join Sheng Wang’s Online Defense
Project: TinyML Deployment Optimizer: A Management System Solution for IoT and Embedded Ecosystems

With the rapid advancement of machine learning and the widespread adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, deploying artificial intelligence on resource-constrained devices has become an inevitable topic. This paper addresses the critical challenge of efficiently deploying and managing machine learning models on small, resource-constrained Internet of Things and embedded devices, known as Tiny Machine Learning. It presents a novel, comprehensive management system streamlining the deployment process, ensuring compatibility between models and devices in resource-limited environments. It introduces a comprehensive platform that integrates model conversion, compatibility checking, and deployment tracking, brings tools for converting standard machine learning models to formats suitable for embedded system devices, and prepares device firmware for over-the-air updates. The platform’s architecture, built on a microservices framework and utilizing in-memory data storage, ensures scalability and real-time responsiveness. The system demonstrates improvements in deployment efficiency and management capabilities throughout the rigid simulations. It shows significant success in model-device compatibility matching, considerably reducing model deployment time compared to manual methods. The results demonstrate the robustness of the methodology in tackling critical challenges related to the deployment and management of TinyML systems. This work contributes to TinyML by providing a scalable, user-friendly solution that addresses the complexities of managing machine learning deployments on resource-constrained devices, paving the way for widespread adoption of TinyML and enabling applications ranging from smart home devices to advanced industrial sensors.

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Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering

AUTUMN 2024

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Master of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering

AUTUMN 2024

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