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Embedded Systems Articles

• Single core to multicore: Addressing the system design paradigm shift with project management and software instrumentation (Feb. 20, 2014)
  You are a software/systems development lead on a complex embedded development project. There are many requirements to be met in order to satisfy the project specifications as well as an aggressive delivery timeline. The project is entering the integration phase. The functionality seems to be working well and you’re feeling pretty good about things.
  
  
• Using a memory management unit (Feb. 10, 2014)
  Memory management units (MMUs) are incorporated in, or available for, a wide range of embedded CPUs. Under some circumstances their use is mandatory; in other situations they might represent an unwanted overhead. This article looks at what MMUs do and how they might be applied. Process and thread models for multi-tasking are compared and contrasted, and an intermediate option is considered that might provide a compromise between security and performance requirements.
  
  
• Using the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm effectively (Feb. 03, 2014)
  This article discusses the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) and shows how the method can be used in practice.
  
  
• On hardware dependencies and scrum (Jan. 31, 2014)
  Embedded systems require hardware. We've experienced successful hardware development following agile principles, in particular by ASIC and FPGA teams. Nevertheless, many hardware engineers find it impossible to follow an agile approach; their "design -- manufacture -- assemble -- test" lifecycle is often too long and expensive for such an iterative incremental scheme. How can agile software developers work with such hardware engineers?
  
  
• HEVC to the rescue (Jan. 22, 2014)
  HEVC is a technology which promises to deliver the same quality video as the widely popular H.264 standard but at roughly half the bandwidth. This article will provide a brief overview of this new compression technology and its expected market adoption.
  
  
• Speed up machine-to-machine networking with UDP (Dec. 30, 2013)
  For applications like streaming video, 6LoWPAN sensor networks, M2M, and IoT devices, the user datagram protocol (UDP) provides a fast, low-overhead alternative to TCP/IP.
  
  
• Low-Power wireless sensor networks for the Internet of Things (Dec. 23, 2013)
  The Internet of Things revolution is upon us, and by the year 2020, there will be over 30 billion connected things in the world. With the world’s population increasing and resources becoming more precious, this interconnection promises to supply real-world data to drive higher efficiencies and to streamline business practices.
  
  
• Thoughts on Streaming Video Securely (Dec. 20, 2013)
  As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to take off, a reasonable number of those Things involve remotely streaming video or still images. Examples include IP security cameras, baby monitors, and televisions with built-in cameras for videoconferencing. Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, most of these devices stream the video in the clear, completely unencrypted. It’s a sad state of affairs.
  
  
• Building eye-catching GUIs for your embedded MCU designs (Dec. 19, 2013)
  This article describes how integration of 2D Direct Memory Access (DMA2D) in microcontrollers creates new possibilities for graphics use in user interfaces by placing limits on device and application coding costs, at the same time improving core processor performance. It describes the key features of DMA2D and how developers can implement these features in application software, with code examples that engineers can use in their own applications.
  
  
• Why Embedded Software Development Still Matters: Optimizing a Computer Vision Application on the ARM Cortex A8 (Dec. 09, 2013)
  This article presents a comparison of two programming approaches for developing effective solutions for computer vision applications. The algorithm we tackle is HSV to RGB color conversion. The processor is an ARM Cortex A8 core with NEON technology.
  
  
• Comparing microcontroller real-time operating systems (Dec. 09, 2013)
  Many larger microprocessor (MPU) designs are built using embedded Linux. Real-time operating systems (RTOSes) are used only in cases where hard real-time performance is required. Regardless of the MPU operating system - either embedded Linux or an MPU RTOS - all use POSIX as the standard for application programming interface (API) calls. Larger operating systems such as Windows and desktop Linux also support these same API calls.
  
  
• Designing an ARM-based Cloud RAN cellular/wireless base station (Dec. 09, 2013)
  This article describes a novel architecture for baseband processing using ARM’s Cortex A57 processors for use in mobile wireless base stations in conjunction with our modem processing unit (MPU), a real-time, reconfigurable platform that allows for the implementation of a wide variety of communication standards in Cloud RAN as a tightly integrated co-processor to general-purpose computers.
  
  
• Smart Transit Solution (Dec. 02, 2013)
  Surveillance and security has become increasingly important during modern days for government/law enforcement, public or private transit authorities and for the fleet management. To monitor or investigate accidental damage, theft, harassment or left packages, producing/collecting evidences and analyze the occurrence of situation is challenge. This white paper describes how smart transit solution can generate evidences and help in analyze the situation of an incident. Smart transit solution improves profitability by enabling batter safety, security and service.
  
  
• Unlock the processing power of wireless modules (Nov. 13, 2013)
  When embedded designers take advantage of the often-overlooked processing power within a wireless module they can typically eliminate the system microcontroller, thus creating a cellular-enabled system that is smaller, more efficient, and much cheaper to produce. Following are guidelines for choosing a module that can act as both microcontroller and modem.
  
  
• Inline Code in C and C++ (Nov. 04, 2013)
  The replacement of a function call by a copy of the code of the function can be an effective optimization, particularly if execution speed is the priority. This article takes a look at how inlining works, when it can be effective, and how it may happen automatically in C and C++.
  
  
• How to verify control loop design (Oct. 31, 2013)
  The non-invasive stability assessment is a method that uses an output impedance measurement to accurately determine stability without access to the control loop. The non-invasive stability assessment, whether performed as a physical test or with a circuit simulation, is a fast, simple, and inexpensive means to verify or optimize any control loop design.
  
  
• Get ready for M-PCIe testing (Oct. 28, 2013)
  The PCI-SIG, the organization responsible for PCI Express, and the MIPI Alliance, the organization behind M-PHY, are in the process of finalizing a new M-PCIe specification that combines the low-power, flexible signaling electrical performance of M-PHY with the interoperability and I/O functionality of PCIe.
  
  
• Using system engineering techniques to accelerate your next project (Oct. 21, 2013)
  System engineering techniques can be applied in product development to improve the design cycle time and reduce risks during end customer development and integration. This application requires understanding complex end customer needs at the system level and then translating them into product requirements and system architecture.
  
  
• Simplify the Internet of Things connectivity of embedded devices (Oct. 14, 2013)
  Many developers are unfamiliar with how to implement a robust TCP/IP stack. This article will explore key issues relating to enabling Internet connectivity in embedded systems, as well as discuss how new tools allow developers to introduce TCP/IP to systems without having to work with low-level implementation details.
  
  
• The future of Android in vehicles (Sep. 27, 2013)
  The authors describe the design challenges to incorporating the Android platform in automotive infotainment, and suggest some solutions.
  
  
• Safety & security architecture for automotive ICs (Sep. 26, 2013)
  The automotive industry is changing rapidly to address the stringent requirements for safety and security of vehicular systems. Requirements are not only coming from customers, but regulatory authorities are also pressuring for greater safety and security in vehicles. The requirements include high bandwidth networks, improved data security, enhanced functional safety, and reduced energy consumption.
  
  
• Building more secure embedded software with code coverage analysis (Sep. 19, 2013)
  Excerpted from their book Embedded Systems Security, David and Mike Kleidermacher discuss how the use of code coverage techniques can improve the reliability and security of embedded software without necessarily increasing cost or development time.
  
  
• Tips for doing effective hardware/firmware codesign (Sep. 02, 2013)
  In an excerpt from his book Hardware/firmware Interface design, author Gary Stringham provides examples of best practices developers can use to increase their design’s performance.
  
  
• Selecting the right RTOS scheduling algorithms using system modelling (Sep. 02, 2013)
  Ranjit Adiga describes how his company did away with the need for a full RTOS implementation by using a hardware/software system modelling tool to build a dedicated scheduler. Also provided is an executable web version of the project where users can visualize the setup of the software processes and definition of the hardware platform.
  
  
• A Tour of the Basics of Embedded NAND Flash Options (Aug. 28, 2013)
  
  
  
• Is Intel within ARM's reach? Pedestrian Detection shows the way (Aug. 21, 2013)
  Benchmarks are always a source of great debate but quite revealing in what they show - or perhaps do not show. In The author looks at how three cores perform against real-world vision algorithms.
  
  
• Is a single-chip SOC processor right for your embedded project? (Aug. 13, 2013)
  This article will describe the benefits, technology, and target markets for single-chip SOCs so developers can make informed decisions about whether this type of solution is right for their next embedded design projects.
  
  
• Critical Building Blocks of Smart Meters (Aug. 05, 2013)
  The emphasis of this article is on these basic elements required in the meter’s software design. In order to address this, it is very important to consider the essentials in its hardware and how different elements are interfaced with MCU, which executes the embedded software.
  
  
• Analyze high-speed interconnects (Jul. 23, 2013)
  Signal integrity (SI) addresses two key aspects in high-speed digital designs: signal timing and quality. SI analysis aims to ensure signals reach their destination in good condition. In a system, signals travel through various kinds of interconnections (e.g., from chip to package, package to RF board trace and trace to high-speed connectors), with any electrical impact happening at the source end, along the transmission path or at the receiving end, which affects both signal timing and quality.
  
  
• Basics of hardware/firmware interface codesign (Jul. 08, 2013)
  In this article, excerpted from Hardware/Firmware Interface Design, by Gary Stringham, the author provides seven principles of embedded hardware/firmware codesign that will ensure that such collaborations are a success.