EMBEDDED SYSTEM

An embedded system is a combination of computer hardware and software designed for a specific function. Embedded systems may also function within a larger system. The systems can be programmable or have a fixed functionality. Industrial machines, consumer electronics, agricultural and processing industry devices, automobiles, medical equipment, cameras, digital watches, household appliances, airplanes, vending machines and toys, as well as mobile devices, are possible locations for an embedded system.

While embedded systems are computing systems, they can range from having no user interface (UI) -- for example, on devices designed to perform a single task -- to complex graphical user interfaces (GUIs), such as in mobile devices. User interfaces can include buttons, LEDs (light-emitting diodes) and touchscreen sensing. Some systems use remote user interfaces as well.

MarketsandMarkets, a business-to-business (B2B) research firm, predicted that the embedded market will be worth $116.2 billion by 2025. Chip manufacturers for embedded systems include many well-known technology companies, such as Apple, IBM, Intel and Texas Instruments. The expected growth is partially due to the continued investment in artificial intelligence (AI), mobile computing and the need for chips designed for high-level processing.

Examples of embedded systems

Embedded systems are used in a wide range of technologies across an array of industries. Some examples include:

Automobiles. Modern cars commonly consist of many computers (sometimes as many as 100), or embedded systems, designed to perform different tasks within the vehicle. Some of these systems perform basic utility functions and others provide entertainment or user-facing functions. Some embedded systems in consumer vehicles include cruise control, backup sensors, suspension control, navigation systems and airbag systems.

Mobile phones. These consist of many embedded systems, including GUI software and hardware, operating systems (OSes), cameras, microphones, and USB (Universal Serial Bus) I/O (input/output) modules.

Industrial machines. They can contain embedded systems, like sensors, and can be embedded systems themselves. Industrial machines often have embedded automation systems that perform specific monitoring and control functions.

Medical equipment. These may contain embedded systems like sensors and control mechanisms. Medical equipment, such as industrial machines, also must be very user-friendly so that human health isn't jeopardized by preventable machine mistakes. This means they'll often include a more complex OS and GUI designed for an appropriate UI.

Types of embedded systems

There are a few basic embedded system types, which differ in their functional requirements. They are:

Mobile embedded systems are small-sized systems that are designed to be portable. Digital cameras are an example of this.

Networked embedded systems are connected to a network to provide output to other systems. Examples include home security systems and point of sale (POS) systems.

Standalone embedded systems are not reliant on a host system. Like any embedded system, they perform a specialized task. However, they do not necessarily belong to a host system, unlike other embedded systems. A calculator or MP3 player is an example of this.

Real-time embedded systems give the required output in a defined time interval. They are often used in medical, industrial and military sectors because they are responsible for time-critical tasks. A traffic control system is an example of this.

Embedded systems can also be categorized by their performance requirements:

Small-scale embedded systems often use no more than an 8-bit microcontroller.

Medium-scale embedded systems use a larger microcontroller (16-32 bit) and often link microcontrollers together.

Sophisticated-scale embedded systems often use several algorithms that result in software and hardware complexities and may require more complex software, a configurable processor and/or a programmable logic array.