Hardware model checking: status, challenges, and opportunities

Abstract

It's been nearly 30 years since Model Checking was first proposed as a method to validate hardware designs. Since then there has been considerable progress in this area and an active research community has grown around it. While areas like Software Model Checking and Hybrid Systems Model Checking are thriving, it seems there hasn't been much progress or activity in the area of Hardware Model Checking (HMC) itself lately. If we examine the proceedings of conferences like CAV, TACAS, or even FMCAD the number of submissions dealing with hardware model checking has gone down drastically compared to 10--15 yrs ago. But verification of hardware designs continues to be a pressing problem -- if anything it is only getting exacerbated with the continuing push towards larger designs and shorter turn-around times. This panel will examine the current status of HMC, what further challenges and opportunities exist going forward and what can be done to give a fresh impetus to the area. The panel will broadly have three sections 1) Taking stock of the area, 2) Challenges to wider industrial adoption, and 3) How to renew interest in HMC? Each section will have multiple talking points (as described below) which will serve as guides for the panelists in taking their positions.