Tiziano explores complex domains to discover practical solutions for cyber-physical systems.
I'm a research associate in the Model-based Systems Engineering competence field, where I work on the model-based development of applications and formal cyber-physical system methods. These are complex systems that interact directly with their surroundings, such as distance regulators in modern vehicles, which autonomously adapt the driving speed to the actual traffic situation. When developing these applications, you have to factor in and ensure adherence to stringent safety, dependability and efficiency requirements through measures such as redundancy. The resulting complexity can no longer be managed with manual development methods. Observing such systems with suitable methods makes it possible to make the relevant information available, depending on the task, thus allowing you to manage the complexity. If it involves models, specific tasks can even be automated and optimized by applying formal methods.
Several fortiss researchers give lectures and courses at the Technical University Munich. I found them to be very exciting, which led me to make fortiss my first choice for an internship. I didn't want to remain at the school and instead wanted to look around. Since the internship was so enjoyable, I stayed on to work as a student temp and to complete my master's thesis.
Not least thanks to the extremely friendly work environment, I was able to get up-to-speed quickly in the Model-based Systems Engineering competence field and with the IDEA research project, and become a productive member of the team.
I've been programming since I was 14. We had a programmable calculator in physics class for analyzing test data. These first lines of BASIC code evolved over months and years, first into a hobby, then a passion. Programming itself is just a tool. The tricky problem solving process is what makes it so exciting.
The willingness to collaborate and share expertise is unique. This is the ideal prerequisite for implementing ideas. My colleagues are always ready to help and are exceptionally capable and dependable - a combination that has allowed me to solve every problem to date.
Although I quickly got up-to-speed at fortiss, dealing with project partners and the requirements from industry was new for me. The next challenge arises as soon as you manage the current one. From a personal standpoint I've grown strongly over the past few months.
I enjoy the job. The tasks are diverse and there are new challenges every day, which I can try my hand at solving. I don't need a lot of additional motivation. But if a problem turns out to be more difficult than I thought, then most of the time it's ambition that motivates me further.
Ideally, I'd like to see our IDEA project serve as the foundation for a safe, efficient and sustainable transportation system, on our planet - and beyond. The entire development process is model-based and as a result everything can be formally described and code can be generated. I don't view it from the standpoint of a specific technology being applied. Instead, it's the fact that the research leads to fewer accidents and more efficient and improved software enhancements.
Use every opportunity to become familiar with fortiss first-hand, regardless if it involves a thesis project, an internship or working as a student temp. If there are no open positions at the moment, then simply submit an unsolicited application. Because the field of research moves so fast, you can be sure opportunities will arise soon enough.
