Mats Heimdahl

Software engineering, safety critical systems

(612) 625-2068

heimdahl@cs.umn.edu

http://www.cs.umn.edu/~heimdahl

Computers are controlling many aspects of our lives; they control systems ranging from microwave ovens and watches to nuclear power plants and aircraft.  Computer-related failures can, in many of these applications, have catastrophic effects.  The goal of my research is to develop methods and tools to help us minimize the number of safety-related problems caused by software.  Research in this area spans all aspects of system development ranging from concept formation and requirements, specification through design and implementation, to testing and maintenance.

Eugene Shragowitz

Computer engineering, computer-aided-design of computers, application of fuzzy logic in CAD

(612) 625-3368

shragowi@cs.umn.edu

http://www.cs.umn.edu/faculty/~shragowi

My current research interests are in computer-aided design (CAD) of electronic systems, soft computing and combinatorial optimization.  In CAD we are developing methods, algorithms and software tools for automated design of chips, multichip modules, and printed circuit boards.  Our algorithms and tools were used by industry for design of the most advanced electronic systems.  We are now concentrating on physical design problems in Design Automation.  This includes placement, routing and signal integrity issues.  We are actively working on timing and signal purity aspects of physical design on all levels.  This work requires application of a variety of mathematical techniques ranging from solving of systems of partial differential equations to advanced optimization techniques and soft computing.  CAD systems belong to the category of the largest and the most complex software systems.  Final products of our research very often have the form of very large computer programs.  We also are working on application of fuzzy logic for solving CAD problems.  Fuzzy logic and other soft computing techniques allow us to address problems which are poorly handled by traditional mathematical methods.

Wei-Tek Tsai

Software engineering, Internet and intranet computing and software systems

(612) 625-6371

tsai@cs.umn.edu

http://www.cs.umn.edu/tsai.html

In software engineering, we are investigating software testing including testing techniques for object-oriented software, regression testing, user interface testing, and testing techniques for Internet applications.  We are also investigating object-oriented techniques such as frameworks, patterns, and architecture.  Software reuse (including test case reuse, requirement reuse, and domain engineering) is another project in which we are involved.  We have been involved in software reengineering for a number of years; recently our research results (including generalized program slicing, ripple effect analysis, variable classification, and data-centered approach) have been used to address year 2000 problems.  We are developing a framework and software tools for scalable Internet electronic commerce.  We are investigating database issues, object modeling, layer architecture, and software evolution.