University of Bologna

About

The ECS research group focuses its scientific effort on the development and optimization of efficient, secure, and autonomous computing and cyber-physical systems. Our research is highly vertical and spans a broad spectrum of technologies, addressing challenges from the embedded and edge device level up to large-scale, High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems.

A core aspect of our activity involves leveraging Artificial Intelligence and novel computing paradigms to build next-generation systems. Our research encompasses AI-driven code generation using language models, Deep Reinforcement Learning for the control of mobile autonomous systems (such as drones, vehicles, and robots), and advanced AI algorithms for anomaly detection in safety-critical infrastructures. Furthermore, we actively explore neuromorphic computing, deploying Spiking Neural Networks on edge devices, alongside designing new architectures for HPC systems based on RISC-V and heterogeneous paradigms. This is strictly coupled with robust research in system security and sustainability, providing HW/OS/firmware security support (e.g., IDS, Control-Flow Integrity), IoT data certification via blockchain, and advanced Run-Time/Middleware techniques for power management in Green HPC.

The group’s theoretical and methodological advancements are directly applied to impactful applications, such as structural health monitoring for critical infrastructures, sustainable HPC, and the digital twins of energy systems. Our commitment to rapid prototyping (Hardware-in-the-Loop, Software-in-the-Loop) and applied research translates into concrete, state-of-the-art research products and platforms, including DeepLLVM, DeepCodeGraph, ControlPulp, EXAMON, TitanCFI, TitanSSL, RUAD, and the Monte Cimone system.

Our Research

Our Research

Discover how we are redefining the limits of autonomous computing and cyber-physical systems. From edge devices to HPC, we explore innovative solutions that maximize performance, minimize energy consumption, and guarantee robust cybersecurity across the entire data chain.

Our Projects

Our Projects

Innovation thrives on application. Dive into our active initiatives, where theoretical breakthroughs meet real-world challenges. Explore how we apply our holistic approach to autonomous drones, smart critical infrastructures, and next-generation computing networks.

Our Team

Our Team

Our success is driven by a passionate, diverse group of researchers, engineers, and students. We bring together complementary expertise across hardware architecture, software layers, and holistic system design. Get to know the minds shaping the systems of tomorrow.