Embedded Systems: Definition, Characteristics, and Application Areas, Essays (university) of Computer System Design and Architecture

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Introduction to Introduction to

Embedded Systems Embedded Systems

Embedded Systems?

• (^) An embedded system is a computer

system designed to perform one or a few

dedicated functions often with real-time

computing constraints. It is embedded as part of

a complete device often including hardware and

mechanical parts. By contrast, a general-

purpose computer, such as a personal computer

(PC), is designed to be flexible and to meet a

wide range of end-user needs. Embedded

systems control many devices in common use

today.

• (^) Since the embedded system is dedicated to specific tasks, design engineers can optimize it to reduce the size and cost of the product and increase the reliability and performance.
• (^) In general, "embedded system" is not a strictly definable term, as most systems have some element of extensibility or programmability.

• (^) Peter Marwedel , Embedded System Design: Embedded Systems Foundations of Cyber-Physical Systems “Embedded systems are information processing systems embedded into enclosing products.”
• (^) Examples include embedded systems in cars, trains, planes, and telecommunication or fabrication equipment. Such systems come with a large number of common characteristics, including real-time constraints, and dependability as well as efficiency requirements. “ Embedded software is software integrated with physical processes. The technical problem is managing time and concurrency in computational systems”.

• (^) Telecommunication: Mobile phones have been one of the fastest growing markets in the recent years. For mobile phones, radio frequency (RF) design, digital signal processing and low power design are key aspects.
• (^) Health sector: There is a huge potential for improving the medical service by taking advantage of information processing within medical equipment. There are very diverse techniques that can be applied in this area.
• (^) Security: The interest in various kinds of security is also increasing. Embedded systems can be used to improve security in many ways. This includes secure identification or authentication of people, for example with finger print sensors or face recognition systems.
• (^) Consumer electronics: Video and audio equipment is a very important sector of the electronics industry.

• (^) Fabrication equipment: Fabrication equipment is a very traditional area in which embedded systems have been employed for decades. Safety is very important for such systems, the energy consumption is less important.
• (^) Smart buildings: Information processing can be used to increase the comfort level in buildings, can reduce the energy consumption within buildings, and can improve safety and security.
• (^) Robotics: Robotics is also a traditional area in which embedded physical systems have been used. Some new kinds of robots, modeled after animals or human beings, have been designed.