Conflicting Criteria in Embedded System Design

The design of complex embedded systems involves the simultaneous optimization of several often competing objectives. Instead of a single optimal design, there is rather a set of alternative trade-offs. The paper describes the involved issues and proposes a methodology to cope with the different sources of heterogeneity in embedded system design. This combination of a design framework, new hybrid evolutionary optimization algorithms and synthesis procedures is explained using examples from architecture, interface and software design.