Embedded Systems Hardware
Embedded Systems Hardware refers to specialized computing systems designed to perform dedicated functions within a larger mechanical or electrical system. Unlike general-purpose computers, embedded hardware is typically optimized for specific tasks, often operating under strict real-time…
Key facts
- First appeared
- 1961
- Category
- technology
- Problem solved
- The problem Embedded Systems Hardware was created to solve was the need for dedicated, efficient, and cost-effective computational control within machines and devices. Before its advent, tasks requiring automation relied on bulky relay logic, inflexible hardwired analog circuits, or expensive, power-hungry general-purpose computers, which were ill-suited for integration into compact, purpose-built systems. Embedded hardware provided programmability, precision, and miniaturization at a price point that enabled pervasive automation.
- Platforms
- PIC Microcontrollers, RISC-V Architectures, ARM Cortex-A Series, ARM Cortex-M Series, Custom ASICs and FPGAs, ESP32/ESP8266 (Tensilica Xtensa), NXP Kinetis Microcontrollers, AVR Microcontrollers, STMicroelectronics STM32
Related technologies
- In-Circuit Debuggers
- Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs)
- Analog and Digital Circuitry
- Communication Protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee)
- Microcontrollers (MCUs)
- System-on-Chips (SoCs)
- Development Boards (Arduino, Raspberry Pi)
- Power Management ICs
- Cross-Compilers and Toolchains
- Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS)
- Embedded Software
- Sensors and Actuators
Notable users
- Consumer Electronics (e.g., Apple, Samsung, Sony, LG)
- Aerospace and Defense (e.g., Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman)
- Industrial Automation (e.g., Siemens, Rockwell Automation, ABB)
- Automotive Industry (e.g., Bosch, Continental, Tesla, Toyota)
- Telecommunications (e.g., Cisco, Ericsson, Huawei)
- IoT Device Manufacturers (numerous startups and established firms)
- Medical Devices (e.g., Medtronic, Philips, GE Healthcare)