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Embedded Systems Articles

• Authentication Flash: Closing the Security Gap Left by Conventional NOR Flash ICs (Sep. 18, 2017)
  In response to demand from security-conscious OEMs, the manufacturers of modern microcontrollers and systems-on-chip (SoCs) commonly equip their products with a broad range of security capabilities: standard, off-the-shelf 32-bit MCUs for mainstream, non-financial applications will today often feature a hardware cryptographic accelerator, a random number generator (RNG) and secure memory locations.
  
  
• Designing for safety and security in a connected system (Sep. 07, 2017)
  Good embedded software has always been designed for both safety and security. However, connectivity has introduced intolerable levels of security vulnerability in safety-critical applications such as medical, autonomous vehicles, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
  
  
• Optimizing flash memory selection for automotive & other uses (Aug. 21, 2017)
  Over the past few years, there has been an increasing demand for NOR Flash memory for use in automotive applications. Initial uses included applications such as infotainment and engine control. However, as advancements in automotive computerization continue to progress, NOR Flash memory is seeing use in a wider range of various automotive applications.
  
  
• The whys and hows of secure boot (Aug. 14, 2017)
  With the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which now span just about every walk of life, from smart cities to wireless jewellery, the need to prioritize security in IoT-style embedded systems has never been greater. The secure boot process is a vital first step in securing any embedded system, a necessary part of your application’s anti-malware fortress. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons, with a focus on one of the most popular processors in electronics – the i.MX6.
  
  
• Introducing ARM Cortex-M23 and Cortex-M33 Processors with TrustZone for ARMv8-M (Apr. 10, 2017)
  The Cortex-M23 and Cortex-M33 processors are the newest members of the highly popular Cortex-M product family. As such, the two processors maintain the expected characteristics of the embbeded profile such as real-time deterministic interrupt response, low power, low area, ease of development, and 32-bit performance. The security foundation is introduced via the addition of TrustZone® technology. The two processors, with such a vibrant ecosystem, will open the door for opportunities across many diverse market segments.
  
  
• Easing the Development of Functionally Safe Controllers (Apr. 03, 2017)
  This paper identifies the need for increased adoption of functional safety and describes how processors can help address the high level of criticality more simply. It details how the provision of fault detection and control features for random errors can be offered together with protection against systematic software errors, while meeting the demanding high-performance and deterministic execution.
  
  
• The Functional Safety Imperative in Automotive Design (Mar. 20, 2017)
  Functional safety is about ensuring that products operate safely and do so even when they go wrong. Here’s why you can’t choose to ignore it.
  
  
• Optimizing compilers for ADAS applications (Mar. 07, 2017)
  All major OEMs and software suppliers of the automotive industry are committed to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). A close look, though, raises questions on the demands ADAS applications place on compilers and toolsets. There are differences between traditional automotive applications and ADAS, and current compliers need some adaptations to better address ADAS needs.
  
  
• Applying DevOps to IoT solution development (Mar. 07, 2017)
  In order to weather the big changes of IoT transformation in near future, IoT application developers and product companies must understand that faster time-to-market is very critical to success in the IoT marketplace. To achieve that, you must allow IoT development platforms to do most of the heavy lifting.
  
  
• Upgrading 8- and 16-bit MCU designs: Development ecosystem (Feb. 28, 2017)
  In this article, we’ll cover how modern software tools, hardware development ecosystems, and ready-made firmware stacks with code examples ease system design and development of 32-bit systems.
  
  
• Designing a low-cost, low-power multicore ARM-based AV player (Feb. 20, 2017)
  This article describes the use of a low-cost, low-density Zynq FPGA in creating a computational platform for implementing infotainment systems for passenger vehicles, such as cars, buses, trains, airplanes and ships. Other applications for this kind of platform include digital signage and information displays in private and public venues such as hotels, hospitals, gas pumps, or kiosks as well as digital picture frames for consumer markets.
  
  
• Debugging hard faults in ARM Cortex-M0 based SoCs (Feb. 09, 2017)
  Programmable system-on-chip (PSoC) architectures integrate a wide range of capabilities, including MCU cores like the Cortex-M0, programmable analog blocks (PAB), programmable digital blocks (PDB), programmable interconnect and routing, a wide range of interfaces and peripherals, and advanced capabilities such as capacitive touch sensing. These architectures over many advantages over traditional microcontrollers and can substantially reduce design time and system bill of materials (BOM) cost.
  
  
• 5G: Can You Hear Me Now? (Feb. 08, 2017)
  The first 5G silicon has been announced. 5G network field trials are underway. The next generation of wireless everything is just about ready. Maybe.
  
  
• Managing the complexity of embedded software development through design automation tools (Jan. 31, 2017)
  The diversity of embedded systems means no single sector dominates the industry; end applications vary widely and even the largest — automotive — represents less than 20% according to some analysts.
  
  
• Exploring a Parallel Universe - It's Coming to a Design Near You (Jan. 27, 2017)
  Moore’s law has finally started to taper off but demand for performance has not. In response, the industry seems to have committed itself to a path of multicore processors and their bigger, bulkier cousins on steroids: the heterogeneous multicore systems. This path could profoundly change the landscape for software developers, but there has been little discussion of what–if anything–software or system programmers should do about it. This is scary!
  
  
• Building low power into the system at the device driver leve (Jan. 19, 2017)
  In today’s products, power is everything. In terms of performance, products are expected to do more in less space and in the case of most devices they need to operate in a smaller power envelope than their predecessors.
  
  
• Can we trust the cloud for video analytics? (Jan. 09, 2017)
  The cloud is a useful and powerful resource for storing and processing data, but -- as video cameras become more ubiquitous and more intelligent -- the question of whether video analytics should be performed locally or remotely must be addressed.
  
  
• Understanding the Technology behind Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) Systems (Jan. 03, 2017)
  A visual-based traffic sign recognition system can be implemented on the automobile with an aim of detecting and recognizing all emerging traffic signs. The same would be displayed to the driver with alarm-triggering features if the driver refuses to follow the traffic signs.
  
  
• Protocols For The Wide-Area IoT (Nov. 28, 2016)
  The internet of things (IoT) will rely on the ability to place sensors anywhere they are needed. The sensors could be embedded in bridges, scattered across the fields of farms or monitoring traffic from streetlights.
  
  
• Selecting the right hardware configuration for the signal processing platform (Nov. 22, 2016)
  This article presents the system level modelling and simulation methodology to architect a signal processing platform for software-defined radios or high-speed communication modems early in the design flow.
  
  
• Tasks and scheduling (Nov. 21, 2016)
  We have already considered the multi-tasking concept – multiple quasi-independent programs apparently running at the same time, under the control of an operating system. Before we look at tasks in more detail, we need to straighten out some more terminology.
  
  
• Which IoT protocol should you use for your design? (Nov. 07, 2016)
  One thing is for certain when it comes to designing an IoT (Internet of Things) device; it won't be standalone. Unlike the way most traditional embedded devices have been developed in the past, such as the old-style digital thermostat I have in my hallway, IoT devices will always feature some form of communication
  
  
• RTOS trends and challenges (Oct. 25, 2016)
  Some decades ago, the embedded industry shifted focus from assembly to C programming. Faster processors and better compilers allowed for raising the level of abstraction in order to improve development productivity and quality.
  
  
• Putting power forward (Oct. 10, 2016)
  Designers of advanced computing systems are no longer able to consider the power supply as a “black box” that can be plugged in at the end of the project. Giving due consideration to power design at an early stage is essential given the growing complexity of server boards, demands for greater power and efficiency, and the need to plan for multiple product generations.
  
  
• Strong identity for devices tackles hidden costs in IoT security (Sep. 28, 2016)
  Developers of Internet of Things (IoT) products know the importance of security to protect personal or industrial data, and typically employ encryption technologies to address that.
  
  
• Advanced BLDC Motor Control using Freescale Ultra Reliable MPC5676R/MPC5674F MCU (Aug. 15, 2016)
  This article describes ongoing internal project activities at eInfochips in the control systems domain for applications in motor and engine controls aimed for aerospace and automotive segments.
  
  
• Efficient SIMD and Algorithmic Optimization Techniques for H264 Decoder on Cortex A9 (Jul. 18, 2016)
  In this paper, we propose and explain two efficient optimization approaches on H264 decoder. First method exploits efficient utilization of SIMD for deblocking filter. The second method uses algorithmic level optimization in the core decoding path upon thorough understanding of the H264 video standard.
  
  
• Platform Software Verification Approaches For Safety Critical Systems (Jul. 04, 2016)
  Innovation is the key to surviving the rapidly changing world of embedded electronics. Efficient testing is a crucial step to achieve the design of reliable products. Emerging applications be in aerospace, automotive or industrial automation systems, need to be tested thoroughly and rigorously. Consequently, in this paper, we shall discuss various techniques to verify DO-178B LEVEL A platform software.
  
  
• Safety Integrity Level - an Overview for FPGA Engineers (Jun. 30, 2016)
  In recent decades, the increasing electronics system complexity significantly shares its functionality and multi-functional peripheral requirement load with Multimillion Gate FPGA/SoC/ASIC. Eventually this resulted in packing multi-module functionality and logic into a Single Chip based solution with Hardware and Software together.
  
  
• No Safety without Security on the IoT (Jun. 23, 2016)
  We have reached the stage in the evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT) where two independent processes have become self-sustaining.