Student (m/f/d): Simulation and evaluation of attack in a TSN network

During your studies, you can contribute to our ongoing research projects. Join us in pushing the limits of what is technically feasible and be part of breaking new ground together. We offer a variety of challenging and practice-oriented topics for mandatory internships, Bachelor’s or Master’s theses or for student research assistants. You will analyse important scientific preliminary questions and support the project teams with development activities.

Place of work: Ilmenau

Team: System Design

Career level:Mandatory Internship, Thesis or Student Research Assistant

Research field: Smart distributed measurement and test systems

Time scope: 4-6 months

Start: As soon as possible

Application deadline: 2026-03-31

Reference number: IMMS_STUD_SD_0125

IMMS has a lab dedicated to Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) system architecture. Among other topics, time synchronization is a key focus area. The IEEE 1588 standard for the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) as well as its TSN specific variant IEEE802.1AS, called generalized PTP (gPTP), play a central role. These protocols are critical for maintaining the deterministic real-time behaviour of TSN networks.

Building on previous work done at IMMS, a test environment based on network simulations has been developed. This enables the simulation and evaluation of Time-Delay-Attacks (TDAs) on the synchronization messages in PTP as well as their impact on the network stability.

The objective of this project is to implement a simple network, simulate attack scenarios and export generated network traffic flow data. In addition, the candidate will analyze the generated traffic with respect to parameters and metrices such as round trip time (RTT), jitter, clock-drift. The goal is to evaluate whether these parameters are suitable to detect attacks in the network. The implementation and evaluation will be carried out using Omnet++ software.

WHAT TO DO:

Introduction to Omnet++
Traffic flood attack simulation on TSN network
Visualization and Recording of Packet Drop count, round trip time (RTT), jitter, clock-drift
Check and measure flow rate, elapsed time for different traffic
Collect, export and evaluate data

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU:

Networking knowledge
Understanding time syncronization like PTP/gPTP concept
TSN network principles and objectives

AND THIS IS US:

We strengthen enterprises with application-oriented research and development in microelectronics, systems engineering and mechatronics and transfer the results of basic research into applications and products. We support companies in launching internationally successful innovations for health, the environment and industry and provide solutions from the feasibility study to series production.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU!

We thank you for your interest in working with us.

Please only apply once – for your favourite topic or for the one that comes closest to your interests. This is the quickest way for us to process your application and get back to you. If you are interested in more than one topic, please include this in your cover letter. In case our current suggestions are not suitable, please send us your with a topic you would like to work on.

WHAT CAN WE OFFER YOU:

An attractive workplace in a modern, very well-equipped and industry-oriented research institute
Work directly at the interface between university and industry
Work in a flexible and creative team and on innovative and challenging topics

For the tasks described in the job offer and with the existing working conditions, an application is possible irrespective of gender and/or any physical disabilities. We foster professional equality of women and men. We invite women in particular to apply. As women are underrepresented at IMMS, they will be given priority in the case of equal suitability, ability and professional performance.

Address:

IMMS Institut für Mikroelektronik- und Mechatronik-Systeme gemeinnützige GmbH (IMMS GmbH)
Ehrenbergstraße 27
98693 Ilmenau
Germany

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