Formal methods for the Specification and Design of Software and Hardware for Embedded Systems.

An embedded system can be defined as a microprocessor-based electronic system which is used in instruments, control systems etc.. Developments in VLSI design technologies have resulted in a greater demand for complex CAD systems and tools to help hardware designers to specify and develop ASIC components on a higher level of abstraction, to verify the design, and achieve shorter time to market.
Research activities to develop formal methods to specify and verify programs are producing new development tools to help software developers.
The purpose of this project is to combine both hardware and software formal methods in order to develop embedded systems. This is done by studying existing formal methods for specification (and eventually implementation/verification) of hardware and software in embedded systems, and to assess the advantages and disadvantages of system-level methods for the specification of such systems.