Michael J. Pont

• Head of Embedded Systems Laboratory, University of Leicester
• CEO of TTE Systems Ltd
  

Professor of Embedded Systems Engineering
Embedded Systems Laboratory

BSc, PhD, MBCS, CEng
T: +44 (0)116 252 2578 (R Block) / +44 (0) 116 223 1684 (TTE Systems)
F: +44 (0)116 252 2619
E: m.pont@le.ac.uk

Location: Embedded Systems Laboratory, R Block, Engineering / TTE Systems Office, 106 New Walk

Main Research Interests:
My main research interest is in the development of techniques and tools which support the design and implementation of embedded computer systems. Such systems are  ubiquitous: for example, a typical modern car will contain more than fifty embedded processors, while an aircraft may include several hundred such devices. I am particularly interested in exploring the ways in which the resulting designs can be made as reliable as possible, through the use of “time-triggered cooperative” (TTC) software architectures and related techniques.

Most theoretical studies suggest that embedded systems implemented using TTC software architectures have more predictable behaviour than those created using alternative
approaches (such as those which are event-triggered and / or pre-emptively scheduled). Set against this is the fact that the creation of TTC architectures requires careful design and
implementation if the theoretically-predicted improvements in system reliability are to be realised in practice.

Embedded Systems Laboratory:
I am Head of the Embedded Systems Laboratory in the Department of Engineering. I supervise a large number of PhD projects on time-triggered embedded systems. Many of these projects have links to industry.

Related Publications:

Nahas, M., Pont, M.J. and Short, M.J. (2009) “Reducing message-length variations in resource-constrained embedded systems implemented using the Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol”, Journal of Systems Architecture Vol. 55: pp.344–354.

Hughes, Z.M. and Pont, M.J. (2008) “Reducing the impact of task overruns in resource-constrained embedded systems in which a time-triggered software architecture is employed”, Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control, Vol. 30: pp.427-450.

Bautista-Quintero, R. and Pont, M.J. (2008) “Implementation of H-infinity control algorithms for sensor-constrained mechatronic systems using low-cost microcontrollers”, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 16(4): 175-184.

Pont, M.J. (2008) “Applying time-triggered architectures in reliable embedded systems: Challenges and solutions”, Elektrotechnik & Informationstechnik, Vol. 125(11): 401-405.

Short, M., Pont, M.J. and Fang, J. (2008) “Assessment of performance and dependability in embedded control systems: Methodology and case study”, Control Engineering Practice. Vol. 16, pp.1293– 1307

Short, M. and Pont, M.J. (2008) “Assessment of high-integrity embedded automotive control systems using Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation”, Journal of Systems and Software, 81(7): 1163-1183.

Gendy, A.K. and Pont, M.J. (2008) “Automatically configuring time-triggered schedulers for use with resource-constrained, single-processor embedded systems”, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 4(1): 37-46.

Ayavoo, D., Pont, M.J., Short, M. and Parker, S. (2007) “Two novel shared-clock scheduling algorithms for use with CAN-based distributed systems”, Microprocessors and Microsystems, 31(5): 326-334.

Kurian, S. and Pont, M.J. (2007) “Maintenance and evolution of resource-constrained embedded systems created using design patterns”, Journal of Systems and Software, 80(1): 32-41.

Mwelwa, C., Athaide, K., Mearns, D., Pont, M.J. and Ward, D. (2007) “Rapid software development for reliable embedded systems using a pattern-based code generation tool”.  SAE Transactions: Journal of Passenger Cars (Electronic and Electrical Systems), 115(7): 795-803.

Short, M.J., Fang, J., Pont, M.J. and Rajabzadeh, A. (2007) “Assessing the impact of redundancy on the performance of a brake-by-wire system”.  SAE Transactions: Journal of Passenger Cars (Electronic and Electrical Systems), 115(7): 331-338.

Short, M.J. and Pont, M.J. (2007) “Fault-tolerant time-triggered communication using CAN”, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 3(2): 131-142.

Phatrapornnant, T. and Pont, M.J. (2006) “Reducing jitter in embedded systems employing a time-triggered software architecture and dynamic voltage scaling”, IEEE Transactions on Computers, 55(2): 113-124.

Pont, M.J. and Banner, M.P. (2004) “Designing embedded systems using patterns: A case study”, Journal of Systems and Software, 71(3): 201-213.

Parikh C.R., Pont, M.J., Jones, N.B. and Schlindwein, F.S. (2003) “Improving the performance of CMFD applications using multiple classifiers and a fusion framework”, Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control, 25(2): 123-144.

Pont, M.J. (2003) “Supporting the development of time-triggered co-operatively scheduled (TTCS) embedded software using design patterns”, Informatica, 27: 81-88.

Pont, M.J. (2003) “An object-oriented approach to software development for embedded systems implemented using C”, Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control 25(3): 217-238.

Li, Y. and Pont, M.J. (2002) “On selecting pre-processing techniques for fault classification using neural networks: A pilot study”, International Journal of Knowledge-Based Intelligent Engineering Systems, 6(2): 80-87.

Li, Y., Pont, M.J. and Jones, N.B. (2002) “Improving the performance of radial basis function classifiers in condition monitoring and fault diagnosis applications where ‘unknown’ faults may occur”, Pattern Recognition Letters, 23: 569-577.

Ong, H.L.R and Pont, M.J. (2002) “The impact of instruction pointer corruption on program flow: a computational modelling study”, Microprocessors and Microsystems, 25: 409-419

Li, Y., Pont, M.J., Jones, N.B. and Twiddle, J.A. (2001) “Using MLP and RBF classifiers in embedded condition monitoring and fault diagnosis applications”, Transactions of the Institute of Measurement & Control, 23(3): 313-339.

Ong, H.L.R, Pont, M.J. and Peasgood, W. (2001) “A comparison of software-based techniques intended to increase the reliability of embedded applications in the presence of EMI” Microprocessors and Microsystems, 24(10): 481-491.

Parikh C.R., M.J. Pont and N.B. Jones (2001) “Application of Dempster-Shafer theory in condition monitoring systems”, Pattern Recognition Letters, 22(6-7): 777-785.