Electronics Weekly
Continuing our series on the latest EW BrightSparks of 2024, we profile Al Rawshan. He is a UKESF scholar who is both an ASIC Design Engineer and student, at Garfield Microelectronics and Southampton University.
Achievements
His passion and talent for engineering were evident early on. For example, his selection for the prestigious Arkwright Scholarship during sixth form. This early recognition fuelled his determination to excel in the field, he shared.
As Rawshan began on his degree, he was further recognised with the award of the IET Diamond Jubilee Scholarship, and he also won a UKESF Scholarship.
Moving forward, in the previous past 12 months, he had completed several high-impact projects. These showcased a range of skills across different domains including robotics, computer vision, and ASIC design.
He began with his 3rd year individual project, “Autonomous Subject Tracking Mobile Robot.” An ambitious undertaking, it involved implementing a novel one-shot behaviour cloning policy on a custom-built mobile robot for autonomous navigation.
The system Rawshan developed could navigate dynamic environments after just a single demonstration, achieving a mark of 85% on the technical approach.
“This project pushed me to rapidly acquire and apply new skills, as I self-taught most of the technology stack, including Linux, embedded electronics, and the Robot Operating System (ROS) framework. Going beyond my curriculum, I learned simulation tools like Gazebo and RVIZ to validate algorithms and test hardware compatibility before physical implementation. The integration of custom hardware with advanced software techniques, including SLAM for sensor fusion and feature extraction, posed significant challenges. Overcoming these hurdles was incredibly rewarding, and it really opened my eyes to the exciting possibilities at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, computer vision, and embedded systems.”
He then built on the expertise in computer vision he gained from his individual project. He secured a position as a Computer Vision Engineer at Audioscenic.
During his three-month internship, he tackled the challenge of implementing an innovative depth-based head pose estimation model using a stereo camera setup. This project significantly improved upon previous 2D camera-based systems and other depth camera technologies, addressing critical limitations in accuracy, depth perception, and environmental adaptability.
The stereo system he developed achieved enhanced depth accuracy, particularly at medium ranges. It also provided better estimation of extreme head poses where 2D features are insufficient.
“To overcome the lack of use case data for training the head pose estimation model, I developed custom data aggregation tools. Another significant challenge was dealing with noisy artefacts in the depth maps, which I addressed by implementing a threaded depth inpainting filter. Optimizing the system’s real-time performance required me to use C++ for critical components and leverage OpenCV for efficient image processing. The success of this project was a huge leap forward in my career, solidifying my passion for solving complex vision problems and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in this field.”
His most recent achievement came after being awarded the UKESF Scholarship and securing a placement with GarField Microelectronics. This is an ASIC design company. Here, he led the Sampling Clock Generator (SCG) project, a crucial component of the ASIC development within the ADC subsystem.
The project required him to deliver a highly flexible and precise timing control mechanism essential for advanced radar processing. The SCG significantly enhanced synchronization between radar interfaces and processing units. This resulted in improving overall system efficiency and expanding the ASIC’s adaptability to various operational scenarios.
“I faced complex technical challenges, particularly in Clock Domain Crossing (CDC) and managing multiple reset sources. To address these, I implemented innovative solutions using multi-flop synchronizers and asynchronous FIFOs, and developed a novel approach for managing multiple reset sources via SPI control. Ensuring thorough verification across various configurations was another major challenge I tackled by designing an extensive assertion-based verification strategy using SystemVerilog. The SCG’s programmable nature and carefully designed clock division logic met stringent jitter and phase noise requirements while enabling future firmware updates. This experience gave me an insight into the intricate world of ASIC digital design, and I’m proud of how it contributed to the project’s success.”
Electronics Industry ViewpointAlly Macleod, UHI North, West and Hebrides and the IET, also shared his viewpoint on Al’s entry.
He highlighted Al Rawshan’s achievement with STEM in Trentino with overseas students.
“Teaching students’ relevant technical language for their chosen engineering specialty is an incredible powerful tool for them. Engineering language can be a struggle for those who have English as their native language so when English is a second language it can be difficult to find the technical wording required. This is a great initiative that will make a great impact on these students.”
Community
Throughout his academic journey, Rawshan told us, he has been passionate about sharing his enthusiasm for STEM. Particularly in the fields of electronics and engineering.
One of his most rewarding experiences, he said, was delivering a comprehensive seminar on PCBs. This was to Year 11 students at a local school.
Collaborating with fellow UKESF Scholars, they created a presentation covering the history, applications, and manufacturing processes of PCBs. What made the experience particularly fulfilling, he shared, was the opportunity to bring abstract concepts to life. Together, they showcased real-world applications of PCBs, highlighting their presence in everyday technology. They including examples from their own projects
Rawshan has also participated in multiple school fairs, engaging with hundreds of students over time. During these fairs, he shares his personal journey into electronics. Fir example, discussing his degree programme, his industry placement, and the exciting projects he’s worked on.
To make the interactions more impactful, he often brings along project demonstrations. The aim is to provide hands-on examples that could spark curiosity and inspire the next generation of engineers.
“These events allowed me to not only showcase the fascinating world of electronics but also to serve as a relatable figure for students considering a similar path.”
Al’s commitment to STEM education also took an international turn. He had the opportunity to mentor undergraduate engineering students in Trentino, Italy. He told us:
“Over the course of a week, I focused on teaching technical English, with a specific emphasis on robotics and embedded electronics. This experience was particularly enriching as it combined language education with technical knowledge transfer, highlighting the global nature of engineering and the importance of clear communication in technical fields.”
Closer to home, he has also been actively involved in mentoring programs at his university, Southampton.
For example, he participated in a week-long taster course designed for aspiring Year 13 students. Here, he took the lead in conducting electronics labs. The sessions involved guiding students through the process of building and testing PCBs. Basically, providing them with practical, hands-on experience that complemented their theoretical knowledge.
This role allowed him to share his expertise while also honing his teaching and leadership skills, Rawshan shared.
Finally, his involvement in STEM education includes being the Education Coordinator for the Southampton University’s Artificial Intelligence Society. In this capacity, he’s had the opportunity to organize and deliver lectures and workshops for students learning about AI.
“Recognizing the importance of hardware in AI applications, I’ve placed a particular focus on hardware engineering aspects, including hardware accelerator architectures and FPGAs. This role has allowed me to bridge the gap between software and hardware in AI education, providing a more holistic understanding of the field to interested students.”
Congratulations to Al Rawshan!
See also: Elektra Awards 2024 – The Winners
