Case Study: Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) achieves award-winning real-time WLAN validation with Synopsys HAPS FPGA-based prototyping

Synopsys and Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech)

Kyushu Institute of Technology’s Computer Science team set out to prototype and validate a MIMO WLAN transceiver (IEEE 802.11ac) developed in Simulink/MATLAB, but faced multiple challenges: demonstrating operation across frame formats, bandwidths and FFT lengths; measuring constellation, BER and PER; validating new DSP receiver algorithms using MATLAB test vectors; supporting long, multi‑MHz validation runs; and providing a robust host‑to‑FPGA connection and software-driven test control.

The team used Synopsys HAPS FPGA-based prototyping, Synphony Model Compiler to synthesize model‑based RTL, and the UMRBus/PCIe interface with C/C++ APIs to connect MATLAB-generated test vectors and control software to the DUT. This flow delivered near‑real‑time performance (≈120 MHz vs. kHz in simulation), fast prototype turnaround, scalable multi‑million‑gate capacity, and successful hardware/software co‑verification — results that validated the receiver algorithms and earned the team the APCCAS demonstration award.

Kyutech

Hiroshi Ochi

Professor, Computer Science and Engineering