Liz Wai-Ping Ng
Robert Gifford, a doctoral candidate with the Penn Research in Embedded Computing and Integrated Systems Engineering (PRECISE) Center, is at the forefront of revolutionizing real-time systems on modern multi-core computers. Working with Linh Thi Xuan Phan and Andreas Haeberlen, Associate Professor and Professor in the Department of Computer and Information Science (CIS), respectively, Gifford is developing solutions that could significantly enhance the safety and predictability of systems that power critical applications, from aerospace to medical devices.
Real-time systems, like those in pacemakers or flight control systems, must respond to inputs within strict timeframes to ensure safety. Traditionally, these systems are built using single-core processors, where tasks are isolated and executed within predictable amounts of time. However, as multi-core processors have become common, new challenges have emerged because of cross-core resource sharing, which can add unpredictable delays. Gifford’s research is developing new, innovative ways to allocate these shared resources on multi-core systems, so that critical tasks can remain predictable and safe while fully leveraging the power of modern hardware.