ELEC3442 Embedded Systems: Logistics & Trends

Class Logistics

• This is the ELEC3442 Embedded Systems course.
• Class schedule: Tuesdays 16:30-18:20 in KB-132, Fridays 17:30-18:20 in KB-132.
• Important dates for class logistics are Tuesdays from 16:30 to 18:20 and Fridays 17:30-18:20.
• Assessment: Labs are 20%, final group project with presentation/video (1-2 min) is 42%, and the test is 38%.
• Late submission for the final project carries a penalty of 2% per day.
• Dr. Vincent Tam is the instructor ([email protected], CB707, check moodle).
• Wu Taiqiang is the teaching assistant ([email protected]).

Development Trends

• In the 1980s, there were large mainframe computers with huge tape drives.
• Personal computers were common in the 1990s.
• Portable computers emerged in the 2000s.
• Small portable devices are now prevalent.

Trends Supporting Embedded Systems

• Convergence of several trends supports embedded systems.
• Hardware costs have decreased, e.g., ENIAC (1945) cost US$500,000, whereas a generic laptop now costs US$500.
• Size reduction: ENIAC (1945) was 1,800 square feet and 27 tons, while laptops are now 0.05 square feet and under 3 pounds.

Computation and Internet Access

• Embedded systems require significant computation and speed.
• Tasks include speed-to-text, audio processing, and network communication.
• ENIAC (1945) performed 5,000 instructions per second; laptops now perform 18 billion instructions per second.
• Internet access is available almost everywhere in the developed world.
• Easy access is still lacking in some parts of the world, but being addressed.

Wireless Access

• Wireless access, such as cell phones and WiFi, enables networking with cheap infrastructure.
• This reduces the need to install physical cables.
• Data costs are low and bandwidth is high, allowing the streaming of multiple movies in real-time.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

• Characteristics of future ICT include ubiquitous and pervasive computing and ambient intelligence.
• Cyber-physical systems, post-PC era, and the disappearing computer are essential.
• Basic technologies include embedded systems and communication technologies.

Influence on Ubiquitous Computing

• Impact of AI or GenAI on embedded systems is clear.
• There is great influence on many areas of embedded systems including the design and optimization aspects.

Embedded System Defined

• An embedded system is also known as a cyber-physical system, Internet of Things (IoT), or industrial internet.
• Additional names: systems of systems, Industry 4.0, Internet of Everything, Smart .
• Embedded systems integrate computation with physical processes.

Formal Definitions

• Embedded Systems (ES) are information processing systems that are embedded into enclosing products.
• Embedded Software is integrated with physical processes.
• A technical issue is managing time and concurrency (to be discussed in Mod-3).
• Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are integrations of computation and physical processes.
• They link to physical quantities such as time, energy, and space.
• CPS = ES + physical environment.

Definition According to the NSF

• Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are engineered systems built from the synergy of computational and physical components.
• Emerging CPS will be coordinated, distributed, and connected.
• CPS must be robust, responsive, adaptable, resilient, safe, secure, and usable.
• CPS application areas include smart electric grids, transportation, buildings, medical technologies, air traffic management, and advanced manufacturing.

Course Learning Outcomes

• Develop a basic understanding of the role of embedded systems in contemporary electronic systems.
• Evaluate embedded systems by performance, power, and energy consumption.
• Understand the fundamentals of hardware/software co-design.
• Develop practical techniques for constructing embedded systems including hardware and software components.

Broad Topics

• Covered topics: Introduction, specification, modeling, CPS/ES hardware/software, evaluation, mapping of applications, optimization, and test.

Smart Devices

• Refrigerator: The addition of computational intelligence and a network enhances the device's function.

IoT Refrigerator Capabilities

• Orders food items when stock is low.
• Searches for lowest food prices and orders water filter when needed.
• Anticipates meals by ordering food preemptively.
• Searches news sites for food price trends and provides consumption info for marketing.
• Enhanced functionalities using the internet.
• Example: Samsung Family Hub has cameras, a 21.5" touchscreen with full HD display, and checks contents without opening the door

Automotive

• Computational technology is used to enhance automotive products.
• In the 1950s, cars had electro-mechanical control.
• Present-day cars use computer-based control systems for fuel injection and anti-lock braking.

Logistics

• Internet access enables remote computation and access to data ("the cloud").
• In the 1970's there was logistical tagging - barcode.
• 21st-century logistics uses intelligent RFID tags.

Embedded Systems vs Computers continued

• Embedded systems have a primary function independent of computation. Tasks like driving a car or making calls using a phone. Computation supports these functions.
• The main function of a computer is computation.
• Computers are "general-purpose" and can execute any program.
• Embedded systems are "special-purpose," specialized for the task but inefficient for other tasks.

Interface to the Cloud

• There is a window of massive computational resources available.
• You can perform searches using voice using Siri.
• You can view a movie, listen to music, or view anything on the internet.
• Networking is powerful in embedded systems.
• IoT devices can leverage interface powerful servers and large databases.

Pervasive Systems

• Embedded systems are at home, work, on your person, and everywhere else.
• Examples: TVs, home automation, motion sensors, RFID readers.
• In terms of personal use, cell phones, smart watches, and health monitoring devices.
• Other instances of embedded systems are in cars and traffic lights.

Social Benefits

• The Internet of Things (IoT) simplifies life; it provides information on food and account balances.
• No code is needed and there is no added complexity.
• People are more independent, with embedded systems handling tasks.
• People visit the Dr. less, and there are no trips to the supermarket.
• Embedded systems are linked into the world.
• You have access to information, and can perform interactions between people are possible

Risks

• Social isolation can occur
• There is a dependence on technology and infrastructure
• IoT requires power and network.
• Network outages/blackouts can be critical.

Privacy and Security

• Observation by embedded systems is pervasive.
• Pervasive observation by embedded systems.
• Instances of embedded systems performing pervasive observations: location via cell phones, health monitoring, media watching, purchasing/driving habits.
• Data may be used to market to you e.g. health.
• Manufacturers may sell or use your data.
• Consumer agreements can be cryptic.
• Agencies may use your data, relating to car, speeding or pre-existing medical conditions.
• The Cloud is attacked with your data inside.
• Even encrypted data can be decrypted in use.

Definition

• There are computer-based systems that do not show up to be computers
• An example of this is digital camera/TV/cellphone
• The complexity is hidden from the user
• Interfacing with users is simple.

Definition Examples

• They interact with other devices, but are not visible to you.
• Examples: disk drive, memory stick, and anti-lock braking system.
• Embedded products are in markets (e.g., consumer electronics, the military, and the medical space).
• There are tight constraints on manufacturing, design, performance, power, and time-to-market requirements.
• This contrasts to the traditional software engineering
• The trend by Moore's law will save you eventually.

Application Specificity

• Embedded systems tend to perform tasks that are application-specific.
• Blurred lines exist over some devices, e.g. cell phones.
• Design is focused on a individual-application
• Higher design efficiency is possible
• General-purpose systems use hardware and software from different companies.
• More work is required for designers, understanding both sides of an embedded system is important.

Emerging IT Scene

• More power is available on raspberry pi 4 board
• Lower power is available on raspberry pi 3 board
• All boards have been redesigned using smaller components

Computers Are Disappearing (!)

• Predicted that there will be 7 trillion devices servicing 7 billion people and 1000 devices per person by 2025.

Intelligent Systems

• Intelligent systems gather, synthesize, and apply information.
• This changes the way entire industries operate.

CPS Characteristics

• CPS needs to be dependable and safety-critical.
• Must be directly connected to the physical environment
• A direct impact on the environment is essential
• Related to availability, safety, and security.
• "Dependability cannot be an after-thought (Kopetz 1997)".

ES Characteristics

• ES must be efficient. - Energy efficient, run-time efficient, code-size efficient, weight efficient, and cost-efficient

Hardware for ES and CPS

• CPS & ES Hardware is frequently used in a loop (“Hardware in a loop.“).
• This involves A/D converter, sample-and-hold, sensors, information processing, display, D/A converter, and actuators.

Real-Time Constraints

• CPS must meet real-time constraints.
• Real-time systems must react to stimuli dictated by the environment.
• Hard real-time constraints results in a catastrophic failure.
• All others are called soft, guaranteed system responses are explained using statistical arguments.

Real-Time Systems (RTS)

• Should CPS and ES be synonymous?
• Real-time behaviour is less important for embedded systems, such as Smart Phones.
• RTS is essential for CPS and models include one for the physical system.

Reactive Systems

• Typically, a CPS is a reactive system and constantly interacts via the ENVIRONMENT.
• Behavior depends on the input and current state
• Automata model is appropriate while functions that are computable are inappropriate.
• Hybrid systems come with analog and digital parts.

Dedicated Systems Characteristics

• It is dedicated to a purpose and knowledge is used at design time.
• The goal is to minimize how much the device uses, by the robustness of systems.
• No mouse is available.
• "Information processing systems having some of the above characteristics are called embedded systems".

Challenges

• Embedded software cannot be done independently due to their efficiency and must be considered for their design.
• Real time needs are essential, link to these physics are essential.

Applications and Designs

• Embedded systems tend to be application specific (cell phones).
• They may use a design with single-use or concurrent apps, while others can be customized.

Group Project

• The work conducted can be in groups of 2 or 3.
• Develop a new app using raspberry pi with new code; plagiarism is not accepted.

Group Project Requirements

• SenseHAT, camera, or other sensors.
• Data processing throughput such as Data analytics.
• There needs to be both a presentation, demo, and short 1-2 minute highlighting the project.
• The tentative product due date is April 25, 2025.