An overview of the CHESS Center

http://chess.eecs.berkeley.edu/

February 23, 2012
Center for Hybrid and Embedded Software Systems
OrganizationBoard of DirectorsEdward A. Lee, EECSThomas Henzinger, EECSAlberto Sangiovanni-Vincentelli, EECSShankar Sastry, EECS Claire J. Tomlin, EECSOther key facultyDave Auslander, MEAhmad Bahai, EECSRuzena Bajcsy, EECSRas Bodik, EECSKarl Hedrick, MEKurt Keutzer, EECSGeorge Necula, CSKoushik Sen, CSSanjit Seshia, EECSMasayoshi Tomizuka, MEPravin Varaiya, EECSStaffChristopher Brooks, EECSCharlotte M. Jones, EECSGladys Khoury, EECSMary Stewart, EECSStavros Tripakis, EECSAffiliated facultyJanos Sztipanovits, Vanderbilt, ECEGautam Biswas, Vanderbilt, Computer ScienceBela Bollobas, University of Memphis, MathematicsGabor Karsai, Vanderbilt, ECEJonathan Sprinkle, University of Arizona, ECE
Cyber-Physical Systems"A cyber-physical system (CPS) integrates computing and communication capabilities with monitoring and / or control of entities in the physical world dependably, safely, securely, efficiently and in real-time." - S. Shankar Sastry

MissionThe goal of the Center is to provide an environment for graduate research on the design issues necessary for supporting next-generation embedded software systems. The research focus is on developing model-based and tool-supported design methodologies for real-time fault-tolerant software on heterogeneous distributed platforms.CHESS provides industry with innovative software methods, design methodology and tools while helping industry solve real-world problems. CHESS is defining new areas of curricula in engineering and computer science which will result in solving societal issues surrounding aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics and medical devices.
ResearchHybrid systems theory and practiceProgramming models for embedded control systemsSemantics of modeling languages and methodsApplications in automotive, avionics, sensor networks, and biologyEmbedded virtual machines for portable, mobile real-time codeExperimental software platforms (Ptolemy, Metropolis, Giotto, etc.)Design transformation technology (component specialization, code gen.)Verification of temporal and safety properties of softwareVisual syntaxes for system design
Software engineering today is based on principles that abstract away key semantic properties embedded systems, such as time. The result is ad-hoc architectures and brittle systems.
Embedded software architecture tomorrow will be built on sound principles that reflect the interaction of the software with the physical world.
CHESS SoftwareExamples of CHESS software include:HyVisual, a block-diagram editor and simulator for continuous-time and hybrid systems (shown at the left)Clotho - Platform-based Design of synthetic biological systemsCHIC, a modular verifier for behavioral compatibility of software and hardware component interfaces. Metropolis, a design environment for heterogeneous systemsMetroII, enhancements to Metropolis: heterogeneous IP import, orthogonalization of performance from behaviorPrecision Timed (PRET) Architecture Simulator. Ptolemy II, a software laboratory for concurrent models of computationVisualSense, a visual editor and simulator for wireless sensor network systems.Viptos, a block-diagram editor and simulator for TinyOS Systems..
Hybrid system model of Newtons Cradle, built using HyVisual.
The Problem: intensive use of embedded software in complex physical systems, such as cars.
The research laboratory: software frameworks and test systems such as the Toyota test cell for engine control technology.
The research laboratory: software frameworks and test systems such as the Berkeley Aerobot Team (BEAR) helicopters.
The Problem: intensive use of embedded software in complex physical systems, such as aircraft.
An overview of the CHESS Center
Berkeley EECS Annual Research Symposium

Center for Hybrid and Embedded Software Systems

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