Impact of Embedded System in Modern Life: IPASJ International Journal of Computer Science (IIJCS)

IPASJ International Journal of Computer Science (IIJCS)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJCS/IIJCS.htm

Email: editoriijcs@ipasj.org
ISSN 2321-5992
A Publisher for Research Motivation ........
Volume 2, Issue 10, October 2014
Impact of Embedded System in Modern Life

P R Kolhe1, M.H.Tharkar2 , R.M Dharskar3 P P. Kolhe4
1
Assistant Professor of Computer Science, College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Dapoli, Ratnagiri,
2
Assistant Professor of Mathamatics, College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Dapoli

3
Assistant Professor, College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Dapoli

4
Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Dr PDKV, Akola
ABSTRACT
We are living in the Embedded Magic-World. We are surrounded with and become habitual to many embedded products and
our daily life largely depends on the proper functioning of these gadgets. Television, Radio, CD player of your living room,
Washing Machine or Microwave Oven in your kitchen, Card Readers, Access Controllers, Palm devices of our work space
enable us to do many of your tasks very effectively. Apart from all these, many controllers embedded in your car take care of
car operations between the bumpers and most of the times you tend to ignore all these controllers. This paper discuses
primarily meaning, importance and characteristics of embedded system and characteristics of designer, different views in
designing embedded system, reliability of system, types of embedded system functions ,their general categories and signal
processing embedded system in Mission Critical Systems (MCS). Embedded system takes care of Mission Critical Systems
(MCS) like nuclear reactor plant, production divisions, flight control etc. which are expected to run continuously for years
without errors and in some cases recover by them self if an error occurs. Now a days Embedded Systems are integral part of all
aspects modern life.
KEYWORDS:- embedded, microcontroller, microprocessor, signal, processing, MCS.
1. INTRODUCTION TO EMBEDDED SYSTEM

An embedded system is a special purpose computer system designed to perform one or a few dedicated functions, often
with real-time computing constraints. It is usually embedded as part of a complete device including hardware and
mechanical parts, anything that uses a microprocessor but isn't a general-purpose computer.
PDAs
Set-top boxes
Televisions
Video Games
Refrigerators
Cars
Planes
Elevators
Remote Controls
Alarm Systems
Stationary installations like traffic lights, factory controllers, or the systems controlling nuclear power plants came
under these systems. Since the embedded system is dedicated to specific tasks, design engineers can optimize it
reducing the size and cost of the product or increasing the reliability and performance. In general, "embedded system"
is not an exactly defined term, as many systems have some element of programmability. For example, Handheld
computers share some elements with embedded systems - such as the operating systems and microprocessors which
power them - but are not truly embedded systems, because they allow different applications to be loaded and peripherals
to be connected.
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2. DEVELOPING STAGES
In the earliest years of computers in the 1930-40s, computers were sometimes dedicated to a single task, but were too
large and expensive for most kinds of tasks performed by embedded computers of today. Over the time however, the
concept of programmable controllers evolved from traditional electromechanical sequencers via solid state devices to
the use of computer technology. One of the first recognizably modern embedded systems was the Apollo Guidance
Computer developed by Charles Stark Draper at the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory. At the inception, the Apollo
guidance computer was considered the riskiest item in the Apollo project as it employed the then newly developed
monolithic integrated circuits to reduce the size and weight. An early mass-produced embedded system was the
Autonetics D-17 guidance computer for the Minuteman missile, released in 1961. It was built from transistor logic and
had a hard disk for main memory. When the Minuteman II went into production in 1966, the D-17 was replaced with a
new computer that was the first high-volume use of integrated circuits. This program alone reduced prices on quad
nand gate ICs from $1000/each to $3/each, permitting their use in commercial products. Since these early applications
in the 1960s, with reduction in the price of embedded systems there has been a dramatic rise in processing power and
functionality. The first microprocessor for example, the Intel 4004 was designed for calculators and other small systems
but still required many external memory and support chips. In 1978 National Engineering Manufacturers Association
released a "standard" for programmable microcontrollers, including almost any computer-based controllers, such as
single board computers, numerical, and event-based controllers. As the cost of microprocessors and microcontrollers
fell it became feasible to replace expensive knob-based analog components such as potentiometers and variable
capacitors with up/down buttons or knobs read out by a microprocessor even in some consumer products. By the mid1980s, most of the common previously external system components had been integrated into the same chip as the
processor and this modern form of the microcontroller allowed even more widespread use, which by the end of the
decade were the norms rather than the exception for almost all electronics devices. Now a days embedded systems are
used in
Automotive systems
Perhaps designing and developing drive-by-wire systems
Telecommunications
Consumer electronics
Cellular phones, MP3 devices, integrated cellular/walkman/PDA/kitchen sink
Set-top boxes and HDTV
Home appliances
Internet appliances
Your washer will be on the internet more than you are!
Defense and weapon systems
Process control
Gasoline processing, chemical refinement
Automated manufacturing
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
Space applications
Satellite communications
3. MICROCONTROLLER VERSUS MICROPROCESSOR

Microprocessor is meant the general purpose Microprocessors such as Intel's X86 family (8086, 80286, 80386, 80486,
and the Pentium) or Motorola's 680X0 family (68000, 68010, 68020, 68030, 68040, etc). These microprocessors
contain no RAM, no ROM, and no I/O ports on the chip itself. For this reason, they are commonly referred to as
general-purpose Microprocessors. A system designer using a general-purpose microprocessor such as the Pentium or
the 68040 must add RAM, ROM, I/O ports, and timers externally to make them functional. Although the addition of
external RAM, ROM, and I/O ports makes these systems bulkier and much more expensive, they have the advantage of
versatility such that the designer can decide on the amount of these ports needed to fit the task at hand. This is not the
case with Microcontrollers. A Microcontroller has a CPU (a microprocessor) in addition to a fixed amount of RAM,
ROM, I/O ports, and a timer all on a single chip. In other words, the processor, the RAM, ROM, I/O ports and the
timer are all embedded together on one chip; therefore, the designer cannot add any external memory, I/O ports, or
timer to it. The fixed amount of on-chip ROM, RAM, and number of I/O ports in Microcontrollers makes them ideal
for many applications in which cost and space are critical.
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4. IMPORTANCE OF EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

Embedded systems span all aspects of modern life and there are many examples of their use.
Telecommunications systems employ numerous embedded systems from telephone switches for the network to mobile
phones at the end-user. Computer networking uses dedicated routers and network bridges to route data. Consumer
electronics includes personal digital assistants (PDAs), mp3 players, mobile phones, videogame consoles, digital
cameras, DVD players, GPS receivers, and printers. Many household appliances, such as microwave ovens, washing
machines and dishwashers are using embedded systems to provide flexibility, efficiency and features. Advanced HVAC
systems use networked thermostats to more accurately and efficiently control temperature that can change by time of
day and season. Home automation uses wired- and wireless-networking that can be used to control lights, climate,
security, audio/visual, etc., all of which use embedded devices for sensing and controlling. Transportation systems from
flight to automobiles increasingly use embedded systems. New airplanes contain advanced avionics such as inertial
guidance systems and GPS receivers that also have considerable safety requirements. Various electric motors brushless DC motors, induction motors and DC motors - are using electric/electronic motor controllers. Automobiles,
electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles are increasingly using embedded systems to maximize efficiency and reduce
pollution. Other automotive safety systems are such as anti-lock braking system (ABS), Electronic Stability Control
(ESC/ESP), and automatic four-wheel drive. Medical equipment is advancing with more embedded systems for vital
signs monitoring, electronic stethoscopes for amplifying sounds, and various medical imaging (PET, SPECT, CT,
MRI) for non-invasive internal inspections.
Soekris net4801, an embedded system targeted at network applications.
5. CHARACTERISTICS OF EMBEDDED SYSTEM

1. Embedded systems are designed to do some specific task, rather than be a general-purpose computer for multiple
tasks. Some also have real-time performance constraints that must be met, for reasons such as safety and usability;
others may have low or no performance requirements, allowing the system hardware to be simplified to reduce
costs.
2. Embedded systems are not always separate devices. Most often they are physically built-in to the devices they
control.
3. The software written for embedded systems is often called firmware, and is stored in read-only memory or Flash
memory chips rather than a disk drive. It often runs with limited computer hardware resources: small or no
keyboard, screen, and little memory
5.1 Characteristics of Embedded System Designer

Jack of many trades
Need to know hardware, software, and some combination of networking, control theory and signal processing
Business models
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6. DIFFERENT VIEWS IN DESIGNING EMBEDDED SYSTEM

An All-To-Common View of Computing measured by: Performance
An Advanced Computer Engineer's View measured by: Performance, Compilers matter too...
An Enlightened Computer Engineer's View measured by: Performance, Cost, Compilers & OS matters
An Embedded Computer Designer's View measured by: Cost, I/O connections, Memory Size, Performance
An Embedded Control System Designer's View measured by: Cost, Time to market, Cost, Functionality, Cost & Cost.
A Customer View is
Reduced Cost
Increased Functionality
Improved Performance
Increased Overall Dependability
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7. GENERAL CATEGORIES OF EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

General Computing: Applications similar to desktop computing, but in an embedded package e.g. Video games,
set top boxes, wearable computers, automatic tellers
Control Systems: Closed loop feedback control of real time system e.g. Vehicle engines, chemical processes,
nuclear power, flight control
Signal Processing: Computations involving large data streams e.g. Radar, Sonar, video compression
Communication & Networking: Switching and information transmission e.g. Telephone system, Internet
8. TYPES OF EMBEDDED SYSTEM FUNCTIONS
Control Laws
PID control (Proportional-Integration-Differentional Control)
Fuzzy logic, ...
Sequencing logic
Finite state machines
Switching modes between control laws
Signal processing
Multimedia data compression
Digital filtering
Application specific interfacing
Buttons, bells, lights,...
High speed I/O
Fault response
Detection & reconfiguration
Diagnosis
9. RELIABILITY
Embedded systems often reside in machines that are expected to run continuously for years without errors and in some
cases recover by themselves if an error occurs. Therefore the software is usually developed and tested more carefully
than that for personal computers and unreliable mechanical moving parts such as disk drives, switches or buttons are
avoided.
Specific reliability issues may include:
1. The system cannot safely be shut down for repair, or it is too inaccessible to repair. Examples include space
systems, undersea cables, navigational beacons, bore-hole systems, and automobiles.
2. The system must be kept running for safety reasons. "Limp modes" are less tolerable. Often backups are selected by
an operator. Examples include aircraft navigation, reactor control systems, safety-critical chemical factory controls,
train signals, engines on single-engine aircraft.
3. The system will lose large amounts of money when shut down: Telephone switches, factory controls, bridge and
elevator controls, funds transfer and market making, automated sales and service.
10. SIGNAL PROCESSING EMBEDDED SYSTEM IN MISSION CRITICAL SYSTEMS (MCS)

(MCSs) such as nuclear reactor systems or satellite vehicles, and many other systems need to be monitored and
controlled from a remote Location. The MCSs usually are connected with sensors for acquiring the external processed
data and transmitting the same to remote station where the processing of the inputs are taken and the processed outputs
which are controlling related are sent back to the actuators for controlling the deviations that occur within the MCSs.
The processing unit is generally an embedded system (EmbSys), which will have the interfaces with the sensors for
receiving the data and also transmitting the controlled data. The testing of the system is also required to be done
remotely. The EmbSys is connected with a fault tolerant host computer system (referred henceforth as HOST) through
which the operators are responsible for the MCS. Fig 1.0 shows the block diagram connecting various components of
remote monitoring and controlling of the MCSs.
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Fig.1.0 Block diagram connecting various components of remote monitoring and controlling
Distancing the EmbSys from the sensors and actuators shall help achieving the environmental conditions, which are
required to operate the EmbSys. Monitoring and controlling the nuclear reactor or missile or satellite systems, require
handling of the same from a remote location. The sensors provide information related to the changes taking place
within the application such as change in temperatures within the sampling rates, which are used for the design of such
systems. The sensors analogous to the physical parameters sensed generate signals. The generated signals are
transmitted over long distances to reach the EmbSys at which location the same are converted to digital data for
processing by the microcontroller. The digital data related to controlling the actuators is again converted to appropriate
signals before the same are transmitted over long distances to reach the actuators. The Actuators use the signals and
initiate control actions analogous to the signals received. For example injecting certain amount of coolant into the
nuclear reactor may be by starting and stopping a pump can control temperatures within the nuclear reactor. The signal
conversion undertaken is dependant on the type of communication technology used. The block diagram shown at Fig
1.1 illustrates signal flow and signal conversion that takes place between the micro controller and the sensors/
actuators.
Fig. 1.1 Block diagram for Signals Processing

The physical connection between the sensors and actuators may be achieved through different communication means,
which may use wired and wireless technologies. The technologies used shall be dependent on the distances to which the
signals must travel and the kind of latency that should be achieved. Table 1.0 show the typical distance limitations
when different communication technologies are used.
Table 1.0: Communication Distance Limitations
Technology Distance Limitation in Meters

RS232C
100
RJ45
4,000
I2C
CAN
500
1
RFID
10,000
WiFi
24,000
IR
Bluetooth
10
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A MCSs must be designed as self-healing fault tolerant system so that any corrective actions taken in real time. The
hardware designs of a fault tolerant system shall have alternate paths of execution, which are to be invoked in case of
failure of such systems.
11. SUMMARY
Embedded systems become essential part of everything right from entertainments, communications, health concerns,
home appliances, automotive systems, transportations, productions, supervisory control, space applications etc. With
the help of Embedded systems complicated process will be carried out with ease, safely, in time, precisely and
continuously. Embedded System makes ultimate changes in the modern human civilization
REFERENCES
[1] 8051 Microcontroller and Embedded System using assembly and C by Mazidi. ISBN- 81-317-1026-2
[2] Dr. JKR Sastry, Remote Monitoring and Controlling of Mission Critical Applications through Embedded
Systems, CSI Communication, volume no. 37, September 2007
[3] http://www.intel.com/education/highered/Embedded/lec-tures/....
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embedded_system
[5] http://www.8051projects.info/tutorials.asp
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Impact of Embedded System in Modern Life: IPASJ International Journal of Computer Science (IIJCS)

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IPASJ International Journal of Computer Science (IIJCS)

Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJCS/IIJCS.htm

A Publisher for Research Motivation ........

Volume 2, Issue 10, October 2014