Master Thesis: AI/ML algorithms for network sensing - Intern

Nokia Strategy & Technology, including Nokia Bell Labs and Nokia Standards, is the renowned research arm of Nokia, having invented many of the foundational technologies that underpin information and communications networks and all digital devices and systems. This research has produced nine Nobel Prizes, five Turing Awards and numerous other awards.

The department of Architecture, Security, and Automation in Nokia Standards, Munich, offers the opportunity for a master student to gain practical experience through working with highly skilled colleagues in a scientific environment and contributing to future-looking projects.

We challenge ourselves to create an inclusive way of working where we are open to new ideas, empowered to take risks and fearless to bring our authentic selves to work.

6G aims at the ambitious goal of sensing the passive environment, operating the network as a passive radar, performing so-called Integrated Communications and Sensing (ISAC). ISAC extracts the physical information from the refined estimate of the radio channel: objects’ position, velocity and shape, and possibly even properties like air humidity. The radar information acquired by the new procedures and signals in cellular network operations will be fused with other sensors’ measurements to populate a digital twin of the environment. For this reason, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has started to pave the way for ISAC integration in cellular network standards. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine learning (ML) processing has greatly emerged over the last decade, allowing to further process and refine information that can be extracted by the network radar operations. The objective of the master thesis is to analyze and answer (a subset of) the following questions and issues:

1. Which are the AI/ML algorithms that are used today for non-3GPP sensors (commercial, research)? 
   • which are the specific sensors’ functionalities that AI/ML can enhance/assist? 
   • which are the architectures considered and how the whole AI/ML life-cycle (e.g., training, inference, re-training) is supported? 
   • Which sensing services (e.g., tracking, intruder detection, object recognition etc….) are addressed?
2. Qualitative/Quantitative analysis on pros/cons of different algorithms that are used for sensing services, based on literature review.
3. Study the options for integration of AI/ML to the ISAC architecture, considering the different sensing methods (monostatic, multi-static) and involved devices (BS, UE). For instance, in the case of BS-based monostatic sensing how the processing chain of a receiver (at a BS) is designed based on AI/ML-based processing of sensing signals?

Expected outcomes include:

1. Overview and state of the art analysis on AI/ML algorithms used in radars and sensing devices, description of the functionalities that AI/ML can enhance/assist. Analysis of advantages and disadvantage of different algorithms that are used for sensing services, based on literature review.
2. Design the system architecture for the integration of AI/ML to the ISAC architecture, for the different sensing methods (monostatic, multi-static) and BS-based sensing, focusing on sensing data processing and sensing outputs derivation.
3. Evaluation of sensing accuracy using AI/ML algorithms for the processing of sensing, considering design options identified in (2).

We are looking for highly motivated candidates who are enthusiastic about developing breakthrough innovations and participate in cutting-edge research in Nokia.You should have:

• A bachelor degree in communications engineering, information theory, or computer science with a grade of at least 2.0 (German grade system equivalent), 

• Basic knowledge in communication networks, signal processing, as well as application areas of AI/ML in communication networks,

• Proficiency in relevant programming languages for quantitative evaluations (e.g., Matlab, Python, C), as well as experience in software engineering (e.g. Design Patterns, object oriented programming, etc.) 

• Highly proficient in spoken and written English, 

• Ability to work independently and ready to collaborate in a diverse team with members of different cultural backgrounds, 

• Willingness and ability to get engaged in novel disruptive research areas, which will require the applicant to learn new skills. 

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We challenge ourselves to create an inclusive way of working where we are open to new ideas, empowered to take risks and fearless to bring our authentic selves to work

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