EMBEDDED

SYSTEMS
 INTRODUCTION
• Embedded software is very important economically because almost
every electrical device now includes software.
• Embedded systems are computer systems that are designed to perform
specific functions within a larger system, often with real-time
constraints.
• Responsiveness in real time is the critical difference between embedded
systems and other software systems whose main purpose is data
processing
• A real-time software system is a system whose correct operation
depends on both the results produced by the system and the time at
which these results are produced.
• It often involves the use of low-level programming languages, such as
assembly or C, to optimize the system's performance and memory
usage.
 EXAMPLES OF EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
1.Automotive systems: Modern vehicles use a variety of embedded systems to control
various functions, such as the engine, transmission, airbags, and entertainment
systems.
2.Medical devices: Many medical devices, such as heart monitors and insulin pumps, rely
on embedded systems to perform their functions.
3.Consumer electronics: Common examples of consumer electronics with embedded
systems include smart TVs, smartphones, and home automation devices.
4.Industrial control systems: Embedded systems are often used in industrial control
systems to control manufacturing processes and equipment.
5.Aerospace and defense systems: Embedded systems are used extensively in aerospace
and defense systems, such as flight control systems, missile guidance systems, and
communication systems.
6.Internet of Things (IoT) devices: Many IoT devices, such as smart home devices and
wearable technology, rely on embedded systems to connect to the internet and
perform their functions.
7.Robotics: Embedded systems are often used in robots to control their movement and
 Characteristics of Embedded Systems
1. Specific task: Embedded systems are often designed to perform a specific task or set of tasks, and may not
have the flexibility to perform other functions.
2. Real-time constraints: Many embedded systems are designed to respond to external events in real-time or
near real-time. This means that they must be able to process data and make decisions quickly and reliably.
3. Limited resources: Embedded systems are often designed with limited resources, such as memory,
processing power, and energy. This means that they must be optimized for efficiency and may use
specialized hardware and software components to conserve resources.
4. Specialized hardware: Embedded systems often use specialized hardware components that are designed
specifically for the system's requirements. This can include custom processors, sensors, and actuators.
5. Reactive and Real time − Many embedded systems must continually react to changes in the system's
environment and must compute certain results in real time without any delay.
6. Deterministic behavior: Embedded systems are often designed to exhibit deterministic behavior, meaning
that their responses to inputs are predictable and repeatable.
7. Dedicated Memory − It must have a memory, as its software usually embeds in ROM. It does not need any
secondary memories in the computer.
8. Often operate in harsh environments: Embedded systems are often used in environments that are harsh
or difficult for humans to access, such as space, underwater, or in high-temperature or high-pressure
environments.
Embedded System Architecture
 Design Issues
1. Hardware-Software tradeoff: The hardware and software components of an embedded system are tightly
integrated and must be designed to work together seamlessly. The hardware must be optimized for the
specific software requirements, and the software must be written to take advantage of the hardware
capabilities.
2. Real-time constraints: Many embedded systems have strict real-time constraints, which means that the
system must respond to events within a specific timeframe. This requires careful design and optimization of
the system to ensure that it can meet these constraints.
3. Power consumption: Many embedded systems are battery-powered or have strict power requirements,
which means that the system must be designed to minimize power consumption. This may involve using
low-power components, optimizing software for power consumption, or implementing power management
features.
4. Memory constraints: Many embedded systems have limited memory resources, which means that the
system must be designed to optimize memory usage. This may involve using specialized data structures,
optimizing code size, or implementing memory management features.
5. Testing and debugging: Testing and debugging embedded systems can be challenging, as the system may be
difficult to access or modify once it is deployed. This requires careful design and implementation of testing
and debugging features, as well as planning for field testing and maintenance.
6. Security: Embedded systems are increasingly connected to networks and the internet, which means that
they must be designed with security in mind. This may involve implementing secure communication
protocols, using secure boot features, or designing for secure firmware updates.
 Advantages
1.High reliability: Embedded systems are often designed for critical applications,
such as medical devices or aerospace systems, where reliability is paramount. By
using specialized hardware and software components and optimizing for
efficiency, embedded systems can often achieve high levels of reliability and
performance.
2.Customizability: Embedded systems can be designed and optimized for specific
tasks, allowing for highly customized solutions that can be tailored to the
requirements of the application.
3.Low power consumption: Embedded systems are often designed to operate on
battery power or other limited power sources, which means that they must be
highly efficient and optimized for low power consumption.
4.Real-time responsiveness: Many embedded systems are designed with real-time
constraints, which means that they can respond to events quickly and reliably.
5.Small size: Embedded systems are often designed to be compact and lightweight,
making them ideal for applications where size and weight are critical factors.
 Disadvantages
1.Limited flexibility: Embedded systems are often designed for specific tasks
and may not be easily adaptable to other tasks or applications.
2.High development costs: Designing embedded systems can be expensive and
time-consuming, due to the specialized hardware and software components
required.
3.Difficult debugging: Debugging embedded systems can be challenging, as the
system may be difficult to access or modify once it is deployed.
4.Security vulnerabilities: As embedded systems become more connected to
networks and the internet, they can be vulnerable to security threats and
attacks.
5.Limited resources: Embedded systems often have limited resources, such as
memory and processing power, which can limit their performance and
functionality.