Research in the Department of Computer Structures

The research area of the Department of Computer Structutes includes computer architecture and operating systems with the special aim to support security, reliability and real time operation. From the application point of view the goals are the suitable definition of security critical software systems by the use of co-ordinated programming language, operating system and architecture approaches, and on the other hand the implementation of reliable, dynamic control and supervision systems in the area of industrial automation and automotive applications.

A research project (starting at Monash University) developed amongst other things the MONADS-PC, an unusual experimental computer, which supports many aspects of security and software structuring at the architectural level. The project is no longer being worked on, but provides a valuable basis for further research.

For some time we are working on the successor project SPEEDOS. The aim of this project is to adapt the concepts found in the MONADS project to conventional, off-the-shelf hardware. Currently an implementation on the Intel Pentium architecture is designed and developed. This project provides many opportunities for software projects done by students.

Another research focus of the department are object oriented programming languages supporting software engineering. Some of the ideas developed designing the language L1 were implemented by creating new Java dialects.

Currently the new language Timor is designed which targets large software systems. It supports flexible reuse of existing software components.

The research project CORE (COoperative REal-time) investigates the problems of large-scale distributed real time systems. Applications are automotive systems, industrial automation and autonomous cooperating robots.