Introduction

Modern technology's progress allows the realisation of chips with millions of transistors. Nowadays, besides classical digital computers and PCs, systems made up of highly integrated processors and specialised hardware and software are gaining relevance. Most such systems are so-called "Systems On a Chip"; these are designs that include digital, mixed-signal and analog processing elements, as well as sensors, actuators and several kinds of micro-electromechanical components.

So-called embedded systems, "invisible computers", are currently seen as the main application of modern and future information technology. It is estimated that the average European relies on an average of 60 to 100 embedded systems every day. These systems, as their name suggests, contain an embedded data processing element that monitors or controls its environment. Common examples include information processing systems in medical devices, transportation systems (automobiles, railway, aeroplanes), mobile communications, entertainment system electronics and robots at many manufacturing and production facilities. The potential for growth in this area is phenomenal, as the number of possible application is endless, but so too is the number of conceptual and technical challenges that must be overcome, providing chances for both industry and the research community alike.

Research at the Computer Architecture Group at Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg is motivated by the scenario given above and covers a wide range of issues associated with the area of development, application and analysis of methods used in the "Computer Aided Design of Systems and Circuits". The main focus of the group is quality assurance derived through Test and Verification, both of particular importance for safety-critical systems. Within this framework, our work can be divided into three main categories:

• basic data structures and core algorithms
• verification (= discovery and removal of design errors)
• test (= discovery of physical defects)

Overview

Support

We would like to thank our sponsors and supporters:

• DFG
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• EDA-Centrum
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• Mentor Graphics
• Concept Engineering
• Micronas
• Sick
• Endress&Hauser