"Building FPGA feed handlers in-house: the costs and complexities"

What is Firmware? In the world of computing and electronics, hardware and software must work together for devices to function correctly. However, there is a critical layer in between called firmware, which ensures that the hardware knows what to do before higher-level software takes over. Without firmware, most electronic devices would not even be able to start. So, in this article, we will talk about “What is Firmware?”. Stay with us to end.

📘 Check out Mouser’s Electronics Information Update, featuring the latest on development tools, power supply design, and embedded software trends. Start reading today 👉 https://mou.sr/3W5qa6Q

Day 174 of 200: Embedded Systems 🚀 Topic: Firmware Optimization — The Hidden Art of Efficiency In embedded systems, firmware is the invisible backbone the software that makes hardware come alive. But here’s the challenge: embedded devices run on limited memory, processing power, and energy. That’s where firmware optimization becomes an art. Core principles: • Memory Management: Use data structures wisely. Every byte counts. • Code Efficiency: Optimize loops, avoid redundancy, and use inline functions where possible. • Power Optimization: Implement sleep modes and interrupt-based operations. • Modularity: Write reusable and maintainable firmware for easy updates. Optimized firmware = faster performance, lower energy use, and longer device lifespan. In a world filled with billions of connected devices, good firmware design is what keeps everything running smoothly.

I just launched my new guide to vacuum windows. This guide expands on detailed research from the 2023 CA Toolkit, including new companies and products. It compiles information and methods that are not otherwise available for this rapidly evolving technology. Will be available in print shortly but now available as PDF download. https://lnkd.in/eEJeb7uY

🧰Workshop: From Datasheet to .data Section by RJ Crandall This fast-paced workshop teaches you how to red team microcontroller code protection features. Analyze a real-world consumer device microcontroller, review its datasheet, discover flawed configurations, build custom tooling to recover protected internal flash, and reverse engineer it in a disassembler. https://lnkd.in/emMiWFNt

The MIPS Atlas Explorer bridges the gap between hardware and software, accelerating development and ensuring scalable, long-term product lifecycles. Learn more about our groundbreaking digital twin and system-level optimization tool at the link in the comments.

⚠️ Shocking fact: There are over 1,400 bugs in the average new car’s embedded codebase—and we call it “safe to drive.” Here’s a truth that’s hard to unsee once you know it: We’ve filled our “smart” devices—cars, insulin pumps, thermostats, even toasters—with millions of lines of firmware. Most users assume it’s bulletproof. Most engineers know it’s anything but. I’ve reviewed embedded codebases across industries, and the scariest trend isn’t bad code… It’s complex code no one understands anymore. Not the original author

Chiplet-based architectures are transforming how custom silicon is designed and built — delivering performance, flexibility, and scalability. As this shift accelerates, firmware is becoming smarter and more automated. AI-driven tools are optimizing performance, reducing cycle times, and providing the modular, scalable foundation needed to unlock the full potential of chiplet-based designs. Together, chiplets solve the silicon scaling problem — and firmware solves the integration problem. Learn more about how Arm advanced firmware is enabling the chiplet era 👀➡️ https://okt.to/Nf7v9A

I’ll be presenting our shared work on implementing the PSS2C stabilizer model on our own industrial computers, which serve as the platform for the excitation systems we’ve developed for synchronous generators. The session will focus on a comparison between the older KONreg EX1000 and the newer KONEX 2000 excitation regulators. From a technical perspective, both have strengths and weaknesses—reminding us that new does not always mean better, and old does not always mean obsolete. -> KONEX 2000 brings advantages in terms of usability, ergonomics, ease of integration and overall functionality. -> KONreg EX1000, on the other hand, can achieve higher precision in certain edge cases due to its use of 32-bit fixed-point arithmetic (Q2.29 format). This contrasts with the 32-bit floating-point representation in the KONEX platform. When working with higher-order filters, as found in some PSS2C models, numerical precision becomes increasingly critical—and this comparison highlights just how important implementation choices can be. 🔎 Looking ahead, this research may open the door to considering a return to fixed-point arithmetic on floating-point supported hardware—blending the efficiency of fixed-point with the flexibility of floating-point, and ultimately leveraging the best of both worlds in KONEX. 📌 If you’re attending ICPGEEC, I’d be glad to see you at session A1-10!

Most ODMs treat firmware as an afterthought. The result? Devices that boot but drain batteries in hours. By optimizing with Coreboot, Star Labs extended runtime from 2 hours to 12. How much performance is wasted when firmware isn’t taken seriously? https://lnkd.in/eAYcZjh8