Introduction to Embedded Systems

1. Introduction to Embedded Systems

2. Introduction • What are embedded systems? • What makes them different? • Real time operation • Many sets of constraints on designs • Challenges in embedded computing system design. • Design methodologies.

3. Definition • Embedded system: any device that includes a programmable computer but is not itself a general-purpose computer. • Computer purchased as part of some other piece of equipment • Typically dedicated software (may be user- customizable) • Often replaces previously electromechanical components • Often no “real” keyboard • Often limited display or no general- purpose display device: don’t need all the general-purpose bells and whistles.

4. What is an embedded system

5. Examples

6. Examples

7. Automotive embedded systems • Today’s high-end automobile may have 100 microprocessors: • 4-bit microcontroller checks seat belt; • microcontrollers run dashboard devices; • 16/32-bit microprocessor controls engine.

8. BMW 850i brake and stability control system • Anti-lock brake system (ABS): pumps brakes to reduce skidding. • Automatic stability control (ASC+T): controls engine to improve stability. • ABS and ASC+T communicate. • ABS was introduced first---needed to interface to existing ABS module.

9. BMW 850i, cont’d. sensor sensor brake brake hydraulic pump ABS brake brake sensor sensor

10. Embedded systems rule the market place • 80 Million PCs vs. 3Billion Embedded CPUs Annually • • Embedded market growing; PC market mostly saturated

11. Why are embedded systems different from desktop computers ?

12. Four General Embedded Systems Types General Computing • Applications similar to desktop computing, but in anembedded package • Video games, set- top boxes, wearable computers,automatic tellers Control Systems • Closed- loop feedback control of real- time system • Vehicle engines, chemical processes, nuclear power,flight control Signal Processing • Computations involving large data streams • Radar, Sonar, video compression Communication & Networking • Switching and information transmission • Telephone system, Internet

13. Characteristics of an embedded system • Real-Time Operation • • Reactive: computations must occur in response to external events • Correctness is partially a function of time • Small Size, Low Weight • • Hand- held electronics and Transportation applications -- weight costs money • Low Power • • Battery power for 8+ hours (laptops often last only 2 hours) • Harsh environment • • Heat, vibration, shock, power fluctuations, RF interference, lightning, corrosion • Safety- critical operation • • Must function correctly and Must not function in correctly • Extreme cost sensitivity • • $. 05 adds up over 1,000, 000 units

14. Embedding a computer output analog input CPU analog mem embedded computer

15. Why use microprocessors? • Microprocessors simplify the design of families of products. • Microprocessors are often very efficient: can use same logic to perform many different functions, but Microprocessors use much more logic to implement a function than does custom logic. • Alternatives: field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), ASIC’s, custom logic, etc. • What about MicroControllers or DSP’s…. • Custom logic is a clear winner for low power devices.

16. An Embedded Control System Designer’s View

17. A Customer View

18. Design teams • Often designed by a small team of designers. • Often must meet tight deadlines. • 6 month market window is common. • Can’t miss back-to-school window for calculator.

19. Challenges in embedded system design • How much hardware do we need? • How big is the CPU? Memory? • How do we meet our deadlines? • Faster hardware or cleverer software? • How do we minimize power? • Turn off unnecessary logic? Reduce memory accesses?

20. Challenges, etc. • Does it really work? • Is the specification correct? • Does the implementation meet the spec? • How do we test for real-time characteristics? • How do we test on real data? • How do we work on the system? • Observability, controllability? • What is our development platform?

21. Embedded System Designer Skill Set Appreciation for multi- disciplinary nature of design • Both hardware & software skills • Understanding of engineering beyond digital logic • Ability to take a project from specification through production Communication & teamwork skills • Work with other disciplines, manufacturing, marketing • Work with customers to understand the real problem being solved • Make a good presentation; even better -- write “trade rag” articles And, by the way, technical skills too… • Low level: Microcontrollers, FPGA/ ASIC, assembly language, A/ D, D/ A • High level: Object- oriented Design, C/ C++, Real Time Operating Systems • Meta level: Creative solutions to highly constrained problems • Likely in the future: Unified Modeling Language, embedded networks • Uncertain future: Java, Windows CE

22. Design methodologies • A procedure for designing a system. • Understanding your methodology helps you ensure you didn’t skip anything. • Compilers, software engineering tools, computer-aided design (CAD) tools, etc., can be used to: • help automate methodology steps; • keep track of the methodology itself.

23. Design goals • Performance. • Overall speed, deadlines. • Functionality and user interface. • Manufacturing cost. • Power consumption. • Other requirements (physical size, etc.)

24. Levels of abstraction requirements specification architecture component design system integration

25. Our requirements form

26. Example: GPS moving map requirements • Moving map obtains position from GPS, paints map from local database. I-78 Scotch Road lat: 40 13 lon: 32 19

27. GPS moving map needs • Functionality: For automotive use. Show major roads and landmarks. • User interface: At least 400 x 600 pixel screen. Three buttons max. Pop-up menu. • Performance: Map should scroll smoothly. No more than 1 sec power-up. Lock onto GPS within 15 seconds. • Cost: $500 street price = approx. $100 cost of goods sold.

28. GPS moving map needs, cont’d. • Physical size/weight: Should fit in hand. • Power consumption: Should run for 8 hours on four AA batteries.

29. GPS moving map requirements form

30. Specification • A more precise description of the system: • should not imply a particular architecture; • provides input to the architecture design process. • May include functional and non-functional elements. • May be executable or may be in mathematical form for proofs.

31. GPS specification • Should include: • What is received from GPS; • map data; • user interface; • operations required to satisfy user requests; • background operations needed to keep the system running.

32. Architecture design • What major components go satisfying the specification? • Hardware components: • CPUs, peripherals, etc. • Software components: • major programs and their operations. • Must take into account functional and non-functional specifications.

33. GPS moving map block diagram display GPS receiver search engine renderer database user interface

34. GPS moving map hardware architecture display frame buffer CPU GPS receiver memory panel I/O

35. GPS moving map software architecture database search renderer pixels position user interface timer

36. Designing hardware and software components • Must spend time architecting the system before you start coding. • Some components are ready-made, some can be modified from existing designs, others must be designed from scratch.

37. System integration • Put together the components. • Many bugs appear only at this stage. • Have a plan for integrating components to uncover bugs quickly, test as much functionality as early as possible.

38. Summary • Embedded computers are all around us. • Many systems have complex embedded hardware and software. • Embedded systems pose many design challenges: design time, deadlines, power, etc. • Design methodologies help us manage the design process. References: • Overheads for Computers as Components, W.Wolf.Morgan Kaufman. • Embedded Systems in the Real World, Phillip Koopman. Carnegie Mellon University.