BORANA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

Course Title: Real Time and Embedded Systems

Course instructor: Guyita G.
rd
Target Group: 3 Year second semester
Real Time and Embedded Systems

Chapter 1: Introduction
Outline of the Lecture
Embedded Systems Definition

Embedded Systems Characteristics

Embedded systems Examples

Contrast between embedded systems and

other computer systems
 Embedded Systems Definition
• Precisely defining Embedded System is difficult. The following
definitions may, in combination, do the job.
 An embedded system is a special-purpose computer system
designed to perform one or a few dedicated functions,
sometimes with real-time computing constraints
 Specialized computer system hardware that is used in larger
systems or machines to control devices such as automobiles,
home appliances, and office equipment .
 Any electronic system that uses a CPU chip, but that is not a
general-purpose, workstation, desktop or laptop computer. Such
systems generally use microprocessors, or they may use
custom-designed chips or both.
Embedded Systems Definition

 An embedded system is some combination of computer

hardware and software, either fixed in capability or
programmable, that is specifically designed for a particular
kind of application device.
 An embedded system is a combination of computer
circuitry and software that is built into a product for
purposes such as control, monitoring and communication
without human intervention.
 Embedded Systems Definition

• IEE defines Embedded Systems as: “the devices used

to control, monitor or assist the operation of
equipment, machinery or plant. “Embedded” reflects
the fact that they are an integral part of the system.
Embedded Systems Characteristics
• Common characteristics of Embedded Systems are the
following:
 Frequently, embedded systems are connected to the physical
environment through sensors collecting information about that
environment and actuators controlling that environment.
 Embedded systems have to be dependable (trusted). Many ES are
safety-critical. Examples of safety critical systems are Nuclear power
plants, airplanes, trains, cars, satellites etc.
Embedded Systems Characteristics
 Dependability encompasses the following aspects of a system:

1. Reliability: Reliability is the probability that a system will not fail.

2. Maintainability: Maintainability is the probability that a failing system

can be repaired within a certain time-frame.

3. Availability: Availability is the probability that the system is available.

Both the reliability and the maintainability must be high in order to
achieve a high availability.

4. Safety: This term describes the property that a failing system will not
cause any harm.

5. Security: This term describes the property that confidential data remains
confidential and that authentic communication is guaranteed.
Embedded Systems Characteristics
 Embedded systems have to be efficient. The following metrics can be used
for evaluating the efficiency of embedded systems:
1. Energy: Many embedded systems are mobile systems obtaining their energy through
batteries. Available electrical energy must be used very efficiently.
2. Code-size: the code-size should be as small as possible for the intended application.
3. Run-time efficiency: We should be able to meet time constraints using the least amount
of hardware resources and energy. In order to reduce the energy consumption, clock
frequencies and supply voltages should be as small as possible.
Embedded Systems Characteristics

4. Weight: All portable systems must be of low weight. Low weight is

frequently an important argument for buying a certain system.
5. Cost: For high-volume embedded systems, especially in consumer
electronics, competitiveness on the market is an extremely crucial
issue, and efficient use of hardware components and the software
development budget are required.
Embedded Systems Characteristics
 These systems are dedicated towards a certain application. For
example, processors running control software in a car or a
train will always run that software, and there will be no
attempt to run a computer game or spreadsheet program on
the same processor. There are mainly two reasons for this:
 Running additional programs would make those systems less
dependable.
 Running additional programs is only feasible if resources such as
memory are unused. No unused resources should be present in an
efficient system.
Embedded Systems Characteristics

 Most embedded systems use a dedicated user-interface

consisting of push-buttons, steering wheels, pedals etc.
Because of this, the user hardly recognizes that information
processing is involved.
 Many embedded systems must meet real-time constraints. Not
completing computations within a given time-frame can result
in a serious loss of the quality provided by the system. A time-
constraint is called hard if not meeting that constraint could
result in a catastrophe. All other time constraints are called
soft.
Embedded Systems Characteristics

 Many embedded systems are hybrid systems in a sense that

they include analog and digital parts.
 Typically, embedded systems are reactive systems. A reactive
system is one that is in continual interaction with its
environment and executes at a pace determined by that
environment.
 Embedded systems Examples
• Even though often nearly invisible, embedded systems are
ubiquitous (existing everywhere).
• Embedded systems are present in many industries, including
industrial automation, defense, transportation, and aerospace. For
example, NASA’s Mars Path Finder, Lockheed Martin’s missile
guidance system, and the Ford automobile all contain numerous
embedded systems.
• Every day, people throughout the world use embedded systems
without even knowing it.
• Remarkably adaptable and versatile, embedded systems can be
found at home, at work, Indeed, it is difficult to find a segment of
daily life that does not involve embedded systems in some way.
 Embedded systems Examples
• Embedded Systems in the Home Environment
 Embedded systems Examples
• Embedded Systems in the Work Environment
 Embedded systems Examples
• Automotive electronics: Modern cars can be sold only if
they contain a significant amount of electronics. These
include air bag control systems, engine control systems,
anti-braking systems (ABS), air-conditioning, GPS systems,
safety features, and many more.
• Aircraft electronics: A significant amount of the total value
of airplanes is due to the information processing equipment,
including flight control systems, anti-collision systems, pilot
information systems, and others. Dependability is of utmost
importance.
• Trains: Again, safety features contribute significantly to the
total value of trains, and dependability is extremely
important.
 Embedded systems Examples
• Medical systems: There is a huge potential for improving
the medical service by taking advantage of information
processing taking place within medical equipment.
• Military applications: Information processing has been
used in military equipment for many years. In fact, some
of the very first computers analyzed military radar signals.
• Authentication systems: Embedded systems can be used
for authentication purposes.
• Fabrication equipment: Fabrication equipment is a very
traditional area in which embedded systems have been
employed for decades. Safety is very important for such
systems, the energy consumption is less a problem.
 Embedded systems Examples
• Smart buildings: Information
processing can be used to increase
the comfort level in buildings, can
reduce the energy consumption
within buildings, and can improve
safety and security.
• Robotics: Robotics is also a
traditional area in which embedded
systems have been used. Mechanical
aspects are very important for robots.
Contrast between embedded systems
and other computer systems
• Life time of embedded systems is very short compared to
general purpose computers.
e.g. average lifetime of cell phone is less than 2 years.
• Almost no backward compatibility.
• Designers of embedded systems are more constrained
than designers of general purpose computer.
e.g. power, energy efficiency, time, cost, etc.
Cont..
 Embedded Systems Basic Elements

User interface Power source

System to be
Main
Power controlled
controller(hardware +
interface
Actuator or monitored
,etc
software)

Signal
Sensors
conditioning
 Sensors
• Measures important system variables.
• Required to make closed loop( used as
feedback).
• Gives information about the system to the
main controller.
• Temperature, pressure, humidity, etc.
 Signal conditioning
• The measured values may need to be
conditioned so that it can be used by the main
controller.
• The conditioning involves scaling, offsetting,
filtering, etc. which is required by the
controller to have meaningful data.
 Power source(s)
• May need to provide multiple power
levels(e.g. +5v,+12v,+24v ).
• May need to supply power other than
electrical power(e.g., hydraulic, pneumatic,
etc.)
• May require high power and low power
levels.
 Power interface
• Needs to do power amplification
• Able to handle the requirements demanded
by the actuator.
 Actuator
• Energy conversion device.
• Converts the power to the kind needed by the
controlled device/system.
• Motor , brake, pump, solenoid, etc.
 User interface
• Takes input command from the user
• Provides meaningful information to the user
• Could be: GUI, meter, numerical readout,
warning indicator, etc.
 Controller Hardware
• The controller hardware will incorporate:
• Computer (analog or digital)
• Microcontroller.
• Communication circuit such as, other device
of UI.
• Interfacing circuitry, pull-up/pull-down
resistors, analog processing.
 Software
• c/c++ programs.
• Assembly language for higher speed function.
• FPGA for higher speed(VHDL) .