ROOT NODE
Rahul Nerella
Embedded Systems & Hardware Engineer // RISC-V, FPGAs, IoT and edge ML.
- Role: Embedded Systems & Hardware Engineer
- Location: Vellore, India
- Status: active
SECTION 01
System Overview
Electronics and Communication Engineering student at VIT Vellore with hands-on experience in embedded systems, automotive sensor integration, and hardware-software co-design. Passionate about ADAS, VLSI, and building intelligent edge devices. Targeting placement/internship roles in embedded, automotive, and semiconductor domains.
VIT Vellore
B.Tech, Electronics and Communication Engineering
GT Aloha Vidhya Mandir, Chennai
High School
SECTION 02
Node Types
- C
- Embedded C
- Python
- Verilog
- MATLAB
- JavaScript
- STM32 (U5/F4)
- PIC32CM
- ESP32
- Arduino
- 8051
- I2C
- SPI
- UART
- CAN
- BLE
- LoRa
- KiCAD
- PlatformIO
- Keil µVision
- STM32CubeIDE
- Icarus Verilog
- Xilinx FPGA
- NI MAX
- FreeRTOS
- TinyML (TFLite Micro)
- PySpice
- Streamlit
- OxTS NCOM
- Bosch BHI360
- Sensor Fusion
- HIL Test Bench
SECTION 03
Operational History
Valeo
ADAS Sensor Integration Intern (anSWer Division)
Integrated Bosch BHI360 IMU and Volvo camera modules into ADAS validation pipeline. Developed C drivers for I2C/SPI communication with IMU peripherals. Parsed OxTS NCOM binary telemetry and Bosch BHI360 binary data in Python to extract roll/pitch/yaw, acceleration (x/y/z), and GNSS data. Built calibration and benchmarking framework comparing BHI360 with OxTS INS (xNAV650) for production replacement feasibility. Performed HIL (Hardware-in-the-Loop) testing and sensor data validation across dynamic scenarios. Set up Dell 7280 servers with NI Workbench and worked with NI PXIe-1085 using NI MAX software. Worked on flashing ECUs with software for cameras and sensors for ADAS systems in Volvo Trucks. Completed short training in EV charger processes, power systems, and Electronic Processing Unit (EPU) design.
SECTION 04
Selected Modules
An advanced, open-source health monitoring smart ring built on the ESP32 Mini. It uses a PPG sensor (MAX30101) and an IMU (MPU6050) to measure extensive physiological and kinetic data. Processing happens entirely on the edge using TinyML models (TensorFlow Lite Micro). Features include Vitals tracking (Heart Rate, SpO2, HRV, Stress Index), Activity monitoring (Step Counter, Fall Detection), and TinyML inference for Sleep Staging, Gesture Recognition, and HR Anomaly Detection.
Built wearable platform using STM32U5 microcontroller with FreeRTOS task scheduling. Integrated heart-rate, step-counter, and ambient light sensors over I2C/SPI. Designed MIPI DSI round-display UI using STM32U5G9J-DK1 Discovery Kit and NeoChrom GPU. Implemented low-power modes (Stop 2 / Standby) achieving multi-day battery life.
An Arduino-controlled 6 Degrees of Freedom (6DOF) robotic arm that uses a rotary encoder and three push buttons for manual servo control. Features intuitive button navigation for joint selection and precise angle adjustment. Replicates human-like motion using six servo motors. (Also developed a PIC32CM LS00 version which won 2nd place at Microchip Designathon 2026).
A complete single-cycle RV32I-style RISC-V CPU written in Verilog. Implemented the full ISA including ALU, register file, data/instruction memory, and control unit. Functional simulation with Icarus Verilog + Verilator; synthesis with Yosys. Completed OpenLane / Sky130 ASIC flow: floorplan, placement, routing, DRC/LVS clean. Built two variants: a Verilog version driven by testbench input, and a Python/localhost webpage version with user input.
An IoT-based safety solution to monitor firefighters in real-time during hazardous operations. Integrates health monitoring (heart rate, temperature), environmental sensing (MQ gas sensors, flame sensor), location tracking (GPS NEO-6M), and long-range communication (LoRa SX1278). Features Edge AI (TinyML) for fall detection, activity recognition, and air quality classification.
SECTION 05
Auxiliary Inputs
- 2nd Place — Microchip Designathon 2026: IMU gesture-controlled 6-DOF robotic arm
- 1st Place — CSI Club Hackathon 2025: AI recruiting platform concept
- 3rd Place — AI GENhack, VIT Gravitas 2025: AI comic generator
- Top 10 — ECE Annual Hackathon 2025: FPGA-based 4-DOF robotic arm
- Embedded Engineering: Embedded C (EDUCBA), IoT & Embedded Systems (UC Irvine), Arduino Programming (UC Irvine)
- Hardware & VLSI: Digital Design in VLSI (L&T EduTech), Computer Architecture (ARM), Semiconductor Devices 1 & 2 (KAIST), Micro:bit (ARM)