Embedded system

Sheet no.1
1- What is an embedded system?
- Is an electronic / electro-mechanical system designed to perform a specific
function and is a combination of both hardware and software.

2- Explain the different applications of embedded systems?

Real Time Applications of Embedded Systems
Embedded systems have a vast variety of application domains that varies from
low cost to high, consumer electronics to industrial equipment, entertainment
devices to academic equipment and medical instruments to weapons and
aerospace control systems. The applications of embedded systems include
home appliances, office automation, security, telecommunication,
instrumentation, entertainment, aerospace, banking and finance, automobiles
personal and in different embedded systems projects.
 A digital camera is a typical example of an embedded system with data
collection/storage/representation of data. Images are captured and the
captured image may be stored with in the memory of the camera. The
captured image can also be represented to the user through a graphic
LCD unit.
  A digital hearing aid is a typical example of an embedded system
employing data processing. Digital hearing aid improves the hearing
capacity of hearing impaired persons.
 A very good example is the electro cardiogram (ECG) machine for
monitoring the heartbeat of a patient.
 Digital (Conversion Rate Optimization) CRO, digital multi meters are
used for monitoring the status of some variables like current, voltage.
 A very good example for control is the Air conditioner system, Room
temperature sensing elements (sensor), Air compressor unit (actuator)

 Embedded System for Detecting Rash Driving on Highways.

The main intention of this project is to design a highway speed-checker device
that identifies rash driving on highways and alarms the traffic authorities if the
speed checker finds any vehicle violating the set speed limits on highways.
 Embedded System for Vehicle Tracking.
The main purpose of this project is to find the exact location of a vehicle by
using a GPS modem and in order to reduce vehicle thefts. The GSM modem
sends an SMS to a predefined mobile which stores the data in it. An LCD
display is used to display the location information in terms of latitude and
longitude values. The microcontroller (AT89C52) is preprogrammed with the
Keil software and therefore, continuously checks the GPS modem.

 Embedded System for Home Automation System.

The main purpose of this project is to design a home automation system with
the Android application based remote control. Remote operation is performed
by Android OS based smart-phone or Tablet etc., upon a Graphical User
Interface based touch screen operation. In order to achieve this, Android
application act as a transmitter, that sends on/off commands to the receiver
wherein loads are connected.

 Embedded System for War Field Spying Robot

The main goal of this project is to design a robotic vehicle using RF technology
for remote operation and attached with wireless camera for monitoring
purpose. The robot with camera can wirelessly transmit real-time video with
night vision capabilities. This type of robot can be helpful for spying purposes
in war fields. An 8051 series of microcontroller are used for the desired
operation.
3- State and Discuss the embedded system components?
The majority of embedded systems are quite simple, with a structure
consisting of three different elements.
 Sensors
A sensor converts the physical action to be measured into an electrical
equivalent and processes it so that the electrical signals can be easily sent and
further processed. The sensor can output whether an object is present or not
present (binary) or what measurement value has been reached (analog or digital)

Embedded sensor systems include cameras, radars, light-based radar (LiDAR)

systems, ultrasonic sensors, wheel-speed sensors and global positioning
systems (GPS)
  Microprocessor and Microcontroller
An embedded system is either a microcontroller-based or microprocessor-based
system. They give a system computing power and are called integrated circuits.
It's normally called the brain of the embedded system. Pick from a range of
processors including 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit processors.

 Actuators
Actuators form a link with the output ports of a given system. These components
are used to facilitate efficient output in many real-life applications such as
process control systems in nuclear reactors, home automation and security
systems, and aircraft flight control systems

The control system can be a human, a fixed mechanical or electronic system, or

even software-based, say a printer driver, or a robot control system. Examples of
actuators include electric motors, stepper motors, electroactive polymers, screw
jacks, servomechanism, solenoids and hydraulic cylinders.

4- Explain the different classification of embedded systems? Give

an example for each.
Embedded Systems are classified based on the two factors:
- Performance and Functional Requirements
- Performance of Micro-controllers
Based on Performance and Functional Requirements it is divided into 4 types
as follows:
a) Real-Time Embedded Systems:
A Real-Time Embedded System is strictly time specific which means these
embedded systems provides output in a particular/defined time interval.
These type of embedded systems provide quick response in critical situations
which gives most priority to time based task performance and generation of
output. That’s why real time embedded systems are used in defense sector,
medical and health care sector, and some other industrial applications where
output in the right time is given more importance.
Further this Real-Time Embedded System is divided into two types:
Soft Real Time Embedded Systems
In these types of embedded systems time/deadline is not so strictly followed.
If deadline of the task is passed (means the system didn’t give result in the
defined time) still result or output is accepted.
Hard Real Time Embedded Systems
In these types of embedded systems time/deadline of task is strictly followed.
Task must be completed in between time frame (defined time interval)
otherwise result/output may not be accepted.
Examples:
Traffic control system
Military usage in defense sector
Medical usage in health sector

Stand Alone Embedded Systems:

Stand Alone Embedded Systems are independent systems which can work by
themselves they don’t depend on a host system. It takes input in digital or
analog form and provides the output.
Examples:
MP3 players
Microwave ovens
calculator
Networked Embedded Systems:
Networked Embedded Systems are connected to a network which may be
wired or wireless to provide output to the attached device. They communicate
with embedded web server through network.
Examples:
Home security systems
ATM machine
Card swipe machine
Mobile Embedded Systems:
Mobile embedded systems are small and easy to use and requires less
resources. They are the most preferred embedded systems. In portability point
of view mobile embedded systems are also best.
Examples:
MP3 player
Mobile phones
Digital Camera

Based on Performance and micro-controller it is divided into 3 types as

follows:
Small Scale Embedded Systems:
Small Scale Embedded Systems are designed using an 8-bit or 16-bit micro-
controller. They can be powered by a battery. The processor uses very
less/limited resources of memory and processing speed. Mainly these systems
do not act as an independent system they act as any component of computer
system but they did not compute and dedicated for a specific task.

Medium Scale Embedded Systems:

Medium Scale Embedded Systems are designed using a 16-bit or 32-bit micro-
controller. These medium Scale Embedded Systems are faster than that of
small Scale Embedded Systems. Integration of hardware and software is
complex in these systems. Java, C, C++ are the programming languages are
used to develop medium scale embedded systems. Different type of software
tools like compiler, debugger, simulator is used to develop these type of
systems.

Sophisticated or Complex Embedded Systems:

Sophisticated or Complex Embedded Systems are designed using multiple 32-
bit or 64-bit micro-controller. These systems are developed to perform large
scale complex functions. These systems have high hardware and software
complexities. We use both hardware and software components to design final
systems or hardware products.