Vision

The majority of people working professionally have had the frustrating experience of having their computer application or web browser freezing in the midst of performing an important task with a rapidly approaching deadline. Much less frequently one experiences that a dishwasher or piece of stereo equipment starts to malfunction and needs to be restarted in order to function properly.

This nice property is to a large extent due to now commonly used techniques in Computer Science such as static analysis and model checking. These types of analyses have proved extremely efficient in securing reliable functioning of relatively simple computer programs like the control program of a dishwasher.

However, for larger and more complicated computer systems like internet web browsers, intelligent homes, digital health care and electronic payment systems these techniques are no longer sufficient. In particular, the interaction with an unpredictable environment calls for new and more advanced approaches. Indeed, future consumer electronic devices like PDA’s, mobile phones, and domestic medical equipment will have a complexity that is comparable to web browsers and complex control systems.

The idea of the project is to enhance well-known techniques in Computer Science like static analysis and model checking with modern methods in applied mathematics. The goal is to develop novel techniques that eventually will benefit the everyday citizen. The ultimate success of this project would be the application of MT-LAB techniques and tools spawned from the project in virtually every computer system in household appliances, cars, and commercial software.

The project will be carried out by researchers at The Technical University of Denmark, Aalborg University and The IT University of Copenhagen and integrates (mainly discrete) computer science modelling and analysis techniques with stochastic and continuous modelling techniques.