"An embedded system is a computer system—a combination of a computer processor, computer memory, and input/output peripheral devices—that has a dedicated function within a larger mechanical or electronic system."
The study of designing and programming small, specialized computer systems that are part of larger products, including microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators.
Microcontrollers: A small computer on a single integrated circuit that contains a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals.
Embedded Systems Architecture: The hardware and software components of an embedded system, including processors, memory, communication interfaces, and peripherals.
Real-Time Operating Systems: An operating system designed to provide predictable and deterministic timing behavior for time-critical applications.
C Programming: A programming language commonly used for embedded system development due to its performance and low-level access to hardware.
Digital Electronics: The study of electronic circuits composed of logic gates that are used in digital circuits, microcontrollers, and other embedded systems.
Low-Level Programming: Programming at the machine code level or close to the hardware of a system, including assembly language and embedded C programming.
Communication Protocols: The way in which data is transmitted and received between different systems, including UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, and Ethernet.
Sensors: Devices that collect data from the environment and generate input for embedded systems.
Motor Control: The control of motors in embedded systems for robotics, automation, and other applications.
Power Management: Strategies and techniques for managing power consumption in embedded systems, including sleep modes and power gating.
Interrupts and Timers: Mechanisms in embedded systems that signal the processor to temporarily suspend the current task and perform a specific action.
Debugging and Testing: The process of finding and fixing errors in embedded systems and verifying their functionality.
Software Engineering: The application of engineering principles to software development, including software design, testing, and documentation.
Firmware Development: The creation and maintenance of firmware software that controls the behavior of embedded systems.
Control Theory: The mathematical study of control systems in embedded systems, including feedback control and system identification.
Analog Electronics: The study of circuits that operate on continuous signals, including amplifiers, filters, and power supplies commonly used in embedded system design.
Data Structures and Algorithms: The study of algorithms and data structures used for data processing in embedded systems.
Cybersecurity: Strategies and techniques used to secure embedded systems from cyber threats and attacks.
Wireless Communication: The technologies used to transmit and receive data wirelessly, including Bluetooth, WiFi, and cellular communication.
Signal Processing: Techniques used to analyze and process signals in embedded systems, including image and audio processing.
Automotive Embedded Systems: Automotive Embedded Systems refer to electronic systems embedded within vehicles that control and monitor various functionalities, including engine control, safety systems, infotainment, and driver assistance systems.
Healthcare Embedded Systems: Healthcare Embedded Systems refers to the implementation of advanced technologies within medical devices and systems to improve patient care, diagnostics, and treatment.
Home Automation Embedded Systems: Home Automation Embedded Systems refers to the integration of electronic devices and communication networks to automate and remotely control household tasks and functions.
Industrial Embedded Systems: Industrial Embedded Systems refers to the application of embedded systems in industrial environments to enable automation, control, and monitoring of complex machinery and processes.
Internet of Things (IoT) Embedded Systems: Internet of Things (IoT) Embedded Systems involves the integration of physical devices with sensors and actuators into the internet network to enable data collection, communication, and control for a wide range of applications.
Military and Aerospace Embedded Systems: Military and Aerospace Embedded Systems involve the design and implementation of specialized electronic systems used in aircraft, missiles, satellites, and other defense applications.
Mobile Devices Embedded Systems: Mobile Devices Embedded Systems refers to the integration of hardware and software components into portable devices, like smartphones and tablets, to enable advanced functionalities and performance.
Multimedia Embedded Systems: Multimedia Embedded Systems refers to the integration of multimedia components such as audio, video, and graphics into embedded systems for enhanced user experiences.
Networking Embedded Systems: Networking Embedded Systems refers to connecting and integrating multiple embedded devices to share resources and communicate efficiently in a networked environment.
Smart Grid Embedded Systems: Smart Grid Embedded Systems refers to the integration of advanced technologies into power grids for improved efficiency, sustainability, and monitoring.
Telecommunications Embedded Systems: Telecommunications Embedded Systems refer to the integration of embedded hardware and software components for communication purposes in devices like smartphones, routers, and IoT devices.
Test and Measurement Embedded Systems: Test and Measurement Embedded Systems refer to the integration of hardware and software components within an embedded system designed specifically for testing and measuring various parameters and performance metrics.
Transportation Embedded Systems: Transportation Embedded Systems involve the use of embedded technology and software to control and optimize various aspects of transportation systems such as vehicles, traffic management, logistics, and smart transportation solutions.
Wearable Embedded Systems: Wearable embedded systems refer to the integration of electronic devices within clothing or accessories, allowing for portable and personalized applications such as health monitoring or smart communication.
Consumer Electronics Embedded Systems: Consumer Electronics Embedded Systems refers to the design and development of specialized computer systems that are integrated into various consumer electronic devices to enhance functionality and user experience.
Robotics and Control Systems: Robotics and Control Systems involve the design and implementation of intelligent machines and the development of algorithms and techniques to control their behavior.
Security and Surveillance Embedded Systems.: Security and Surveillance Embedded Systems involve the implementation of hardware and software solutions to protect and monitor physical spaces, objects, and data.
"Design engineers can optimize it to reduce the size and cost of the product and increase its reliability and performance."
"Embedded systems control many devices in common use such as home appliances, industrial assembly lines, robots, transport vehicles, traffic light controllers, and medical imaging systems."
"In 2009, it was estimated that ninety-eight percent of all microprocessors manufactured were used in embedded systems."
"Because an embedded system typically controls physical operations of the machine that it is embedded within, it often has real-time computing constraints."
"It is embedded as part of a complete device often including electrical or electronic hardware and mechanical parts."
"Modern embedded systems are often based on microcontrollers [...] but ordinary microprocessors (using external chips for memory and peripheral interface circuits) are also common."
"A common standard class of dedicated processors is the digital signal processor (DSP)."
"Some embedded systems are mass-produced, benefiting from economies of scale."
"Embedded systems range in size from portable personal devices such as digital watches and MP3 players to bigger machines like home appliances, industrial assembly lines, robots, transport vehicles, traffic light controllers, and medical imaging systems."
"Often they constitute subsystems of other machines like avionics in aircraft and astrionics in spacecraft."
"Large installations like factories, pipelines, and electrical grids rely on multiple embedded systems networked together."
"Generalized through software customization, embedded systems such as programmable logic controllers frequently comprise their functional units."
"Embedded systems range from those low in complexity, with a single microcontroller chip, to very high with multiple units, peripherals, and networks."
"The processor(s) used may be types ranging from general purpose to those specialized in a certain class of computations, or even custom designed for the application at hand."
"Design engineers can optimize it to reduce the size and cost of the product and increase its reliability and performance."
"Because an embedded system typically controls physical operations of the machine that it is embedded within, it often has real-time computing constraints."
"Modern embedded systems are often based on microcontrollers (i.e. microprocessors with integrated memory and peripheral interfaces)."
"Ordinary microprocessors (using external chips for memory and peripheral interface circuits) are also common, especially in more complex systems."
"In 2009, it was estimated that ninety-eight percent of all microprocessors manufactured were used in embedded systems."