UNIT 5

Q1.What are the Characteristics of Embedded System?

Ans Characteristics of Embedded systems:

 Application and domain specific

 Reactive and Real Time
 Operates in harsh environments
 Distributed
 Small Size and weight
 Power concerns

1. Application and Domain Specific:- Each E. S has certain functions to perform and they are developed in
such a manner to do the intended functions only. They cannot be used for any other purpose.
Ex – The embedded control units of the microwave oven cannot be replaced with AC’s embedded control
unit because the embedded control units of microwave oven and AC are specifically designed to perform
certain specific tasks.

2. Reactive and Real Time: - E.S are in constant interaction with the real world through sensors and user-
defined input devices which are connected to the input port of the system. Any changes in the real world are
captured by the sensors or input devices in real time and the control algorithm running inside the unit reacts
in a designed manner to bring the controlled output variables to the desired level.
E.S produce changes in output in response to the changes in the input, so they are referred as reactive
systems.
Real Time system operation means the timing behavior of the system should be deterministic i.e the system
should respond to requests in a known amount of time.
Example – E.S which are mission critical like flight control systems, Antilock Brake Systems (ABS) etc are
Real Time systems.

3. Operates in Harsh Environment :–The design of E.S should take care of the operating conditions of the
area where the system is going to implement. Ex – If the system needs to be deployed in a high temperature
zone, then all the components used in the system should be of high temperature grade.Also proper shock
absorption techniques should be provided to systems which are going to be commissioned in places subject
to high shock.

4. Distributed: – It means that embedded systems may be a part of a larger system. Many numbers of such
distributed embedded systems form a single large embedded control unit.
Ex – Automatic vending machine. It contains a card reader, a vending unit etc. Each of them are
independent embedded units but they work together to perform the overall vending function.

5. Small Size and Weight:-Product aesthetics (size, weight, shape, style, etc) is an important factor in
choosing a product. It is convenient to handle a compact device than a bulky product.

6. Power Concerns: -Power management is another important factor that needs to be considered in designing
embedded systems. E.S should be designed in such a way as to minimize the heat dissipation by the system.

Q2 Write the Quality Attributes of Embedded System?

Ans Quality Attributes of Embedded System

Quality attributes are the non-functional requirements that need to be documented properly in any system
design
Quality attributes can be classified as 1.Operational quality attributes 2.Non-operational quality
attributes.
1. Operational quality attributes

The operational quality attributes represent the quality attributes related to the embedded system when it is
in the operational mode or online mode
The Operational Quality Attributes are
 Response
 Throughput
 Reliability
 Maintainability
 Security
 Saftey

1. Response:
It is the measure of quickness of the system.It tells how fast the system is tracking the changes in input
variables. Most of the E.S demands fast response which should be almost real time.
Ex – Flight control application

2. Throughput
It deals with the efficiency of a system. It can be defined as the rate of production or operation of a defined
process over a stated period of time.The rates can be expressed in terms of products, batches produced or
any other meaningful measurements.
Ex – In case of card reader throughput means how many transactions the reader can perform in a minute or
in an hour or in a day.
3. Reliability:
It is a measure of how much we can rely upon the proper functioning of the system.
Mean Time between Failure (MTBF) and Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) are the terms used in determining
system reliability.MTBF gives the frequency of failures in hours/weeks/months.
MTTR specifies how long the system is allowed to be out of order following a failure. For embedded system
with critical application need, it should be of the order of minutes.

4. Maintainability:
It deals with support and maintenance to the end user or client in case of technical issues and product failure
or on the basis of a routine system checkup. Reliability and maintainability are complementary to each
other.A more reliable system means a system with less corrective maintainability requirements and vice
versa. Maintainability can be broadly classified into two categories. Scheduled or Periodic maintenance
(Preventive maintenance), Corrective maintenance to unexpected failures

5. Security:
Confidentiality, Integrity and availability are the three major measures of information security.
Confidentiality deals with protection of data and application from unauthorized disclosure.
Integrity deals with the protection of data and application from unauthorized modification. Availability deals
with protection of data and application from unauthorized users.
6. Safety:
Safety deals with the possible damages that can happen to the operator, public and the environment due to
the breakdown of an Embedded System. The breakdown of an embedded system may occur due to a
hardware failure or a firmware failure. Safety analysis is a must in product engineering to evaluate the
anticipated damages and determine the best course of action to bring down the consequences of damage to
an acceptable level.

Q3. write a short note on ASIC?

Ans. Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC):
A microchip designed to perform a specific or unique application. It is used as replacement to conventional
general purpose logic chips.
 ASIC integrates several functions into a single chip and thereby reduces the system development cost

Most of the ASICs are proprietary products. As a single chip, ASIC consumes very small area in the total
system and thereby helps in the design of smaller systems with high capabilities/functionalities.

ASICs can be pre-fabricated for a special application or it can be custom fabricated by using the
components from a re-usable „building block‟ library of components for a particular customer application

Fabrication of ASICs requires a non-refundable initial investment (Non Recurring Engineering (NRE)
charges) for the process technology and configuration expenses

If the Non-Recurring Engineering Charges (NRE) is born by a third party and the Application Specific
Integrated Circuit (ASIC) is made openly available in the market, the ASIC is referred as Application
Specific Standard Product (ASSP)

The ASSP is marketed to multiple customers just as a general-purpose product , but to a smaller number of
customers since it is for a specific application.

Q4. Write Down the name Of different part of robot ?

Ans
1. Actuators: These are devices responsible for moving or controlling the robot's limbs or
parts. Examples include motors, servos, and pneumatic cylinders.
2. Sensors: Sensors provide the robot with information about its environment. Common types
include cameras, ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors, and touch sensors.
3. Microcontroller/Processor: The central processing unit of the robot, which controls its
operations and processes sensor data. Often, microcontrollers like Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or
custom-designed controllers are used.
4. Power Supply: Robots require a source of power, typically batteries, to operate.
5. Chassis or Frame: The physical structure that holds all the components of the robot
together.
6. Wheels or Tracks: These provide mobility to the robot. Depending on the design, a robot
can have wheels, tracks, legs, or other types of locomotion.
7. Manipulator or Arm: If the robot needs to interact with its environment, it might have a
manipulator or robotic arm equipped with joints and end-effectors like grippers or claws.
8. End-Effector: The tool or device at the end of the robotic arm used to perform specific tasks.
Examples include grippers, welders, or vacuum suction cups.
9. Circuitry: The electronic circuits and wiring that connect all the components and sensors of
the robot.
10.Control Software: The software that governs the robot's behavior, including algorithms for
navigation, decision-making, and communication.
11.Communication Modules: These enable the robot to communicate with other devices or a
central control system. Examples include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, or RFID.
12.Power Distribution System: The components and circuitry responsible for distributing
power from the power source to the various parts of the robot.
13.Localization and Mapping (SLAM): Systems that help the robot understand and navigate
its environment, often using techniques like Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM).
14.Safety Systems: These include sensors and mechanisms designed to ensure the robot
operates safely, such as collision detection and emergency stop buttons.
15.Telemetry and Feedback Systems: Instruments for monitoring the robot's status, such as
voltage levels, temperature, and motor speed.
16.Gyroscope and Accelerometer: Sensors that measure orientation and acceleration, helping
the robot maintain balance and stability.
17.Microphones and Speakers: Used for audio communication or voice recognition in some
robots.
18.Lidar or Laser Range Finders: Advanced sensors for 2D or 3D mapping and obstacle
detection.
19.Camera Mounts and Pan-Tilt Units: Mechanisms that allow cameras to move and adjust
their orientation.
20.Vision Processing Unit (VPU): Specialized hardware for real-time image and video
processing.

Q5. Explain force sensor and pressure sensor?

Ans

Force sensors and pressure sensors are both types of sensors used to measure mechanical
interactions, but they serve different purposes and are designed to detect different aspects of
these interactions. Here's an explanation of each:

1. Force Sensor: A force sensor, also known as a load cell, force transducer, or force gauge, is a
device used to measure the force applied to it. It quantifies the magnitude of a force, typically
in units like Newtons (N) or pounds-force (lbf). Force sensors are used in various applications,
including industrial automation, robotics, aerospace, and research.

Key characteristics and components of force sensors:

 Strain Gauges: Force sensors often employ strain gauges, which are tiny electrical resistance
elements that change their resistance when subjected to mechanical deformation. When force
is applied to the sensor, it deforms slightly, causing a change in the resistance of the strain
gauges.
 Calibration: Force sensors need to be precisely calibrated to provide accurate force
measurements. The calibration process establishes a relationship between the sensor's output
(usually in voltage or digital signal) and the applied force.
 Types: Force sensors come in various types, including compression load cells, tension load
cells, and shear load cells, depending on how the force is applied and the direction of
measurement.

Applications of force sensors:

 Industrial weighing scales

 Force measurement in material testing
 Monitoring forces in machinery and robotics
 Automotive crash testing
 Medical devices like prosthetics
2. Pressure Sensor: A pressure sensor, as the name suggests, measures the pressure of a fluid
(liquid or gas) applied to its sensing element. It provides information about the force applied
over a given area, which results in pressure. Pressure sensors are used in a wide range of
applications, including automotive systems, medical devices, environmental monitoring, and
industrial processes.
 Key characteristics and components of pressure sensors:

 Sensing Element: Pressure sensors contain a sensing element, such as a diaphragm or a

piezoelectric crystal, that deforms in response to changes in pressure. This deformation
generates an electrical signal that is proportional to the applied pressure.
 Types: Pressure sensors can be categorized into absolute pressure sensors (measure pressure
relative to a vacuum), gauge pressure sensors (measure pressure relative to atmospheric
pressure), and differential pressure sensors (measure the difference in pressure between two
points).
 Units: Pressure is typically measured in units like Pascals (Pa), bars, pounds per square inch
(psi), or millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

Applications of pressure sensors:

 Tire pressure monitoring systems in vehicles

 Barometric pressure measurement for weather forecasting
 Blood pressure monitors in healthcare
 Industrial process control and automation
 Aerospace applications for altitude measurement

In summary, force sensors measure the force applied to them, while pressure sensors
measure the pressure of a fluid. Both types of sensors are essential in various industries for
monitoring and controlling mechanical interactions and processes.