Why embedded systems

Real-time embedded systems must provide results or outputs promptly. Priority is assigned to output generation speed, as real-time embedded systems are often used in mission-critical sectors, such as defense and aerospace, that need important data, well, yesterday.

Real-time embedded systems are further divided into soft real-time embedded systems and hard real-time embedded systems to account for the importance of output generation speed. Soft real-time embedded systems have lenient output timeframes or deadlines. If outputs are not provided in a specified timeframe, performance decline may ensue, but the consequences of this decline are relatively insignificant, do not constitute a system or application failure, and are unlikely to result in a harmful outcome.

The system's outputs are also still considered valuable, despite their tardiness. An example of a soft real-time embedded system is a computer running an application whose sole purpose is to analyze in real-time relatively innocuous, non-mission-critical, sensor-acquired data, such as the temperature and humidity readings of a given locale. Depending on the computer's processing and memory resources, a slight delay in real-time output delivery may occur; however, temperature and humidity data acquisition and analysis, the outputs of which are although helpful to have on hand, aren't typically considered mission-critical activities producing mission-critical data, so the system's outputs, albeit late, would still be regarded as valuable, and its latency, although an indication that quality of service has declined, would cause no particularly harmful outcomes.

Hard real-time embedded systems are the antithesis of soft real-time embedded systems. These systems must consistently meet their assigned output deadlines, as not doing so is considered a system or application failure, which, in many cases, could have catastrophic outcomes because of the hard real-time embedded system's typical deployment in mission-critical programs and applications.

For example, missile defense systems utilize hard real-time embedded systems, as detecting, tracking, intercepting, and destroying incoming missiles are activities that must be executed under strictly imposed deadlines to avoid jeopardizing human lives, buildings, equipment, vehicles, and other assets. Now let's move on to the embedded systems that can stand on their own, i. Standalone embedded systems don't require a host computer to function. They can produce outputs independently.

Important to stress is that the independent functionality of standalone embedded systems does not apply to all embedded systems. Many embedded systems are functional and purposeful only as integrated parts of larger mechanical, electrical, or electronic systems. For example, an adaptive cruise control ACC system becomes non-functional when removed from a vehicle; therefore, the ACC system is not a standalone embedded system, as it depends on a larger system, i.

But a calculator, for example, produces an output, i. It constitutes a standalone embedded system because it requires no embedment within a broader system, unlike the ACC system.

Network, or networked, embedded systems rely on wired or wireless networks and communication with web servers for output generation. Frequently cited examples of network embedded systems include:. Home and office security systems comprise a network of sensors, cameras, alarms, and other embedded devices that gather information about a building's interior and exterior and use it to alert users to unusual, potentially dangerous disturbances closeby.

An ATM relies on network connections to a host computer and bank-owned computer to approve and permit withdrawals, balance inquiries, deposits, and other account requests.

POS systems comprise networks of multiple workstations and a server that keeps track of customer transactions, sales revenue, and other customer-related information. Overall, if embedded systems are part of or rely on networks of other devices to function, they're classified as network or networked embedded systems.

Mobile embedded systems refer specifically to small, portable embedded devices, such as cellphones, laptops, and calculators. Best Programming Languages for Embedded Systems Programming Embedded systems are different from traditional computer-based programs and require a broad array of tools for programming and operation.

They ensure speed, the ability to access low-level system components, and little memory consumed by the programs. C is also a good option for IoT and embedded systems because programs built in C are compatible with different architectures.

Java is popular for creating programs for embedded systems due to its powerful libraries and the Java Virtual Machine that allows building portable apps compatible with different types of hardware. What is more, it can collect, store and analyze tons of data from real-time embedded systems. Bottom Line Embedded systems are a good choice for almost every industry sector where efficiency, ease-of-use, affordability, consistency in production, durability, low energy consumption, and low IT maintenance are of primary importance.

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Other Posts in This Category. Industries Technologies. An embedded system is a small computer that forms part of a larger system, device or machine. Its purpose is to control the device and to allow a user to interact with it. They tend to have one, or a limited number of tasks that they can perform.

Examples of embedded systems include:. Click here for government certification in Electronics Share. Leave new. Very informative and specially for the ones in electronic field. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.

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