Modules for Midterm

Module 6 (1 Week)

A. Course Content:

Embedded systems: Its definition, types and examples.

B. Learning Outcomes:

1. Define embedded systems;

2. Enumerate the types of embedded systems;

3. Give examples of embedded systems.

C. Motivation/Introduction

This chapter presents terms used in the context of embedded systems together
with their history as well as opportunities, challenges and common characteristic of
embedded and cyber-physical systems.

D. Discussion

History of Terms

Until the late 1980s, information processing was associated with large mainframe
computersandhugetapedrives.Later,miniaturizationallowedinformationprocessing
with personal computers (PCs). Office applications were dominating, but some
computers were also controlling the physical environment, typically in the form of
some feedback loop.

Later, Mark Weiser created the term “ubiquitous computing”. This term
reflectsWeiser’spredictiontohavecomputing(andinformation)anytime,anywhere.
Weiser also predicted that computers are going to be integrated into products
such that they will become invisible. Hence, he created the term “invisible
computer.” Withasimilarvision,thepredictedpenetrationofourday-to-
daylifewithcomputing
devicesledtotheterms“pervasivecomputing”and“ambientintelligence.”These
threetermsfocusononlyslightlydifferentaspectsoffutureinformationtechnology.
Ubiquitouscomputingfocusesmoreonthelong-termgoalofprovidinginformation
anytime, anywhere, whereas pervasive computing focuses moreonpractical aspects
and the exploitation of already available technology. For ambient intelligence, there
issomeemphasisoncommunicationtechnologyinfuturehomesandsmartbuildings.
Miniaturization also enabled the integration of information processing and the
physicalenvironmentusingcomputers.Thistypeofinformationprocessinghasbeen
called an “embedded system”:

Definition 1.1 (Marwedel): “Embedded systems are information processing systems

embedded into enclosing products”.
Examples include embedded systems in cars, trains, planes, and telecommunication
or fabrication equipment. Such systems come with a large number of common
characteristics, including real-time constraints, and dependability as well as
efficiency requirements. For such systems, the link to physics and physical systems
is rather important. This link is emphasized in the following citation [316]:
“Embeddedsoftwareissoftwareintegratedwithphysicalprocesses.Thetechnical
problem is managing time and concurrency in computational systems.” This citation
could be used as a definition of the term “embedded software” and could be
extended into a definition of “embedded systems” by just replacing “software” by
“system”.
However, the strong link to physics has recently been stressed even more by the
introduction of the term “cyber-physical systems” (CPS for short). CPS can be
defined as follows:

Definition 1.2 (Lee):“Cyber-PhysicalSystems(CPS)areintegrationsofcomputation and

physical processes”.
Thenewtermemphasizesthelinktophysicalquantitiessuchastime,energy,and
space.Emphasizingthislinkmakessense,sinceitisfrequentlyignoredinaworldof
applications running on servers and on PCs. For CPS, we may be expecting models to
include models of the physical environment as well. In this sense, we may think of
CPS to comprise embedded systems (the information processing part) and the
physical environment, or CPS=ES+physics.

Types of Embedded Systems based on the performance and functional

requirement:
1. Real Time Embedded Systems

2. Stand-alone Embedded Systems

3. Networked Embedded Systems

4. Mobile Embedded Systems

E. Activity

Give 3 more examples of embedded systems.

F. Quiz

1. What are the types of embedded systems?

H. Reference

Hammershoj, Allan et. al. (2009). Mobile Platforms: An Analysis of Mobile Operating
Systems and Software Development platforms. Denmark: Center for Communication, Media
and Information technologies (CMI).

Anderson, P. (2007). What is Web 2.0? Ideas, technologies and implications for education.
JLSC Technology & Standard Watch.

Platform Technologies – https://www.scribd.com/presentation/434271605/PLATFORM-

TECHNOLOGIES

http://www.9to5mac.com/android-rom-install-256-droid

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091111PD205.html
Module 7 (1 Week)

A. Course Content:

Live Demo All about Arduino

B. Learning Outcomes:

1. Watch a live demo all about Arduino;

2. Identify Arduino; and,

3. Cite examples of Arduino

C. Motivation/Introduction

D. Discussion

(please watch a live demo all about Arduino in youtube)

E. Activity

Identify Arduino and cite an examples of Arduino ( 50 points )

F. Quiz

G. Answer key to Quiz

H. Reference

Hammershoj, Allan et. al. (2009). Mobile Platforms: An Analysis of Mobile Operating
Systems and Software Development platforms. Denmark: Center for Communication, Media
and Information technologies (CMI).

Anderson, P. (2007). What is Web 2.0? Ideas, technologies and implications for education.
JLSC Technology & Standard Watch.
Platform Technologies – https://www.scribd.com/presentation/434271605/PLATFORM-
TECHNOLOGIES

http://www.9to5mac.com/android-rom-install-256-droid

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20091111PD205.html