In the college, my friends like to call me “Hacker Si”, for many crazy and interesting
things I have done in the previous 3 years--- I hacked my college website, school vote
system, physical health inquiry system, but later I helped them fix the security holes,
and I also I joined a local 0-day group focusing on challenge to very difficult
CrackME subjects. All these experiences not only fulfill my campus life, but also give
me the confidence that I have talent in engineering. And now I Now, I’d like to apply
for a MS program in EECS at UC Berkeley, particularly focusing on the study of
wireless sensor networks.
Besides being a hacker, I am also an “inventor” on campus. I am passionate to put my
creative ideas into practice. I created many interesting tool-kits by programming.
When I was a freshman, with the purpose of making my classmates get to know each
other better, I independently used Google Map API to design on-line alumni
record. Willing to be the first one to know the test score, I used C++, Python, PHP
and many Linux shell tools to build an automatic grade query system which could
send SMS automatically to my cell phone when the new test scores appeared in
dean’s system. Furthermore, I always think it is cool to run my own system on my
computer, so I built an operating system (OS) by myself, which I named QuakE. I
used Assembly and C language to set it up in extracurricular.
Fascinated by the beauty of algorithm behind all these softwares, I have great
performance in related courses. In Data Structure course, I have got 95 marks and it
helped me to be aware of the importance of the algorithm. I used Huffman algorithm
to build up Huffman encoder and decoder for data compression. In my Innovative
Design and Practice of Robots course, I was the only one who implemented
multi-thread and genetic algorithm for robot path planning. To learn how to design an
algorithm, I also taught myself the classic book Introduction to Algorithms by using
MIT open course ware. While hoping to extend my previous study on graph algorithm
into wireless sensor networks, I found the situation becoming far more complex than
that of ideal networks, so I am teaching my self the Topology Control in Wireless
Ad-Hoc and Sensor Net now.
I am not satisfied only in building software. In fact, I think electromechanical
integration will play more important roles in the future. As one of few students in my
university who applied for Undergraduate Research Program (URP) in sophomore, I
used CC2430 single chip microcomputer and Z-stack protocol stack to build up a
Wireless Measuring and Controlling System.When it was finished, I noticed that this
system had a big problem -- the time synchronization problem. Classic time-sync
protocols (such as FTSP) is the most popular method, but I think Time-sync for
wireless sensor networks is related to many different factors, so it cannot get a reliable
estimate for time-sync method only using academic analysis. I would like to study the
simulating method of time-sync and validate the capability of time-sync method in the
future. Besides, Used coupled oscillator to achieve network stateless natural
synchronization received considerable publicity nowadays.
Although what I have made was just a simple WSN prototype, I was deeply
fascinated by this technology. It is totally different from software engineering – I can
use my computer to control or monitoring our environmental in WSN field and it
make me realized that I can use my computer to do more things. I think WSNs have
the potential to enhance and change the way people interact with technology and the
world.
In my second project, I extended the star topology structure wireless sensor networks
to a complicated mesh structure (using TinyOS). To enhance the QoS (quality of
service), I need to find a self-balance mechanism to balance the real-timing, reliability
and resource utilization rates. Therefore, I choose to use data fusion technique to
decline the redundant data and save energy. I noticed that in the distributed in-cluster
algorithm the transmission between cluster heads and a fusion center hinders further
reduce of transport energy. Therefore, I tried to use an improved Ant Colony
Optimization (ACO) to to handle frequent topological changes and reliable delivery.
As for career goal, I would like to continue my career in wireless sensor networks.
Therefore, I choose networking and communications as my concentration tracks in the
M.S. Program. To be more specific, I would like to improve the WSN’s platform.
There is little research in QoS routing in sensor networks. I think the future research
should address the issues of WSN platform’s security, QoS (quality of services), and
node mobility. I would like to create a robust and energy-efficiency network algorithm
with high QoS in my WSN platform during my postgraduate study. My long-term
goal is to join or establish a research institute working on developing wireless sensor
networks applications. The exceptional Berkeley Wireless Research Center (BWRC)
at UC Berkeley is the very place for me to discuss the frontier technical issues in
routing algorithms and find creative ways to solve them with a diversity of experts
and intelligent students worldwide. With my previous experience and achievements, I
can say with confidence, that I will be a very diligent, enthusiastic and competent
candidate waiting for your admission into your graduate program.