I work on practical projects across software, embedded systems, and AI, from connected devices and firmware to local applications and model experimentation. Most of my work is hands-on and built around real use cases, whether that means writing low-level code, integrating hardware, or exploring model training and fine-tuning on local machines.
A smart thermostat platform for room-based monitoring and control built on ESP32, BLE sensors, and Wi-Fi connectivity. It includes a local web interface for configuration, live monitoring, and device control without relying on cloud services. The project combines embedded firmware with a practical interface, making it closer to a complete system than a standalone prototype.
Stack: C/C++ ESP32 BLE Wi-Fi HTML/CSS/JavaScript
An ESP32 / Arduino library for local Yeelight LAN control, designed for fast communication and low-latency response. The goal was to keep device control lightweight, local, and easy to integrate into automation setups. It reflects my interest in building tools that are simple, useful, and close to the hardware.
Stack: C/C++ ESP32 Arduino LAN/UDP
A Romanian automatic speech recognition project built around Common Voice and FastConformer-based training with iterative tuning. It tracks training runs, decoding strategies, and language-model-assisted evaluation to improve recognition quality on Romanian speech. The project reflects my interest in practical AI work, especially training and refining models on local hardware with measurable results.
Stack: Python Jupyter Notebook NVIDIA NeMo ASR Common Voice KenLM
A desktop application that captures on-screen content and syncs it with RGB lighting for ambient effects. It was built with multi-monitor setups, smooth color updates, and responsive performance in mind. The project highlights the software side of my work, especially applications that connect user experience with hardware behavior.
Stack: Python
A modular irrigation controller built around nRF52840 and Zephyr RTOS for multi-zone water control. It combines BLE configuration, scheduling, and sensor-driven logic in a system meant for real deployment rather than a simple prototype. I am currently developing it further to reduce energy consumption and make irrigation adapt better to temperature and precipitation.
Stack: C/C++ Zephyr RTOS nRF52840 BLE
A configurable SystemVerilog digital filter bank for conditioning asynchronous inputs through per-channel synchronization, programmable filtering, and interrupt generation. It processes 17 independent channels through a shared register-controlled architecture, making it useful for debounce-style qualification, glitch rejection, and cleaner digital signal handling. The project reflects my interest in digital design and verification, especially building practical RTL blocks with clear behavior and dedicated testbenches.
Stack: SystemVerilog RTL Design Digital Design Verification
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An Arduino library for retrieving temperature and humidity data over BLE from thermometers flashed with ATC custom firmware. It was built to simplify environmental sensing in embedded and IoT projects. It is a small library, but closely aligned with the kind of low-power, sensor-based systems I enjoy working on.
Stack: C/C++ Arduino BLE
A database-driven web platform covering inventory, procurement, sales, and role-based workflows. It combines backend logic, relational data modeling, and a usable interface for practical internal operations. It shows a broader software side of my work through backend logic, database design, and role-based web functionality.
Stack: Python Flask PostgreSQL SQL HTML/CSS/JavaScript
A 16-bit ALU written in SystemVerilog with arithmetic, logical, shift, rotate, and flag-control operations. It produces CPU-style status flags, supports extended arithmetic outputs, and uses a clocked design with enable and reset control. The repository also includes a grouped testbench for checking arithmetic paths, edge cases, and flag behavior across the instruction set.
Stack: SystemVerilog RTL Design Digital Design Verification
A desktop application for managing shopping lists, purchase status, and budget-aware item tracking. It was designed as a lightweight utility with a simple interface and a fast local workflow. It is a smaller utility project, but it reflects my interest in building software that is practical, lightweight, and easy to use.
Stack: Python PyQt
- AutoWatering as a low-power irrigation system designed to reduce energy consumption and adapt watering logic to temperature and precipitation
- nRF52 + Zephyr development for sensor integration, BLE configuration, and cleaner firmware structure
- romanian-asr-commonvoice for training and refining a Romanian speech recognition pipeline on Common Voice with decoding and language-model evaluation
- Software development
- Embedded systems and firmware
- BLE, Wi-Fi, and IoT communication
- AI model training, fine-tuning, and experimentation
- Hardware-connected applications
National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest
Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology
Telecommunications Technologies and Systems | 2023-2027
- nRF Connect SDK Intermediate — Nordic Semiconductor
- Bluetooth Low Energy Fundamentals — Nordic Semiconductor
- Cryptographic Algorithms in Embedded Systems — NXP Semiconductors
- NXP Eat-Sleep-Code-Repeat Project — NXP Semiconductors
- Design and Verification Summer School — Infineon
- AI Summer School — ETTI
Exploring next
I am also exploring the AI side of my work through practical projects and experiments, especially in areas such as:
- training and fine-tuning models on local hardware
- computer vision experiments
- speech-to-text systems
- LLM-based tools that can support software and embedded products
- GitHub: AlexMihai1804
- Email: tapirlan.alexandru184@gmail.com
- Location: Bucharest, Romania