P.I. Okwu and I.N. Onyeje / International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com Vol. 3, Issue 4, Jul-Aug 2013, pp.610-616 Ubiquitous Embedded Systems Revolution: Applications and Emerging Trends P.I. Okwu1 and I.N. Onyeje2 1Deputy Director, Electronics Development Institute (ELDI) Awka, Nigeria 2Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Anambra State University, Uli Nigeria ABSTRACT This paper describes the various Closely following the above was the Digital technological revolutions and pinpoints the Revolution, sometimes called the third industrial embedded systems revolution as the most recent revolution, which is the change from analog and quietest of all. Being a revolution within electronic technology to digital technology that took another, it is seen as embedded into digital place about 1980 and continues to the present day. revolution. Embedded systems came into The term also refers to the sweeping changes limelight with the birth of microcontrollers and brought about by digital computing and have invaded and embedded themselves into all communication technology during the latter half of fields of our lives and this ubiquity is increasing the 20th century. This marked the beginning of the in our daily lives. Despite this, the level of Information Age. Central to this revolution is the awareness of embedded system is low, hence this mass production and widespread use of digital logic paper is written. During the survey of embedded circuits, and its derived technologies, including the systems evolution the point that they perform computer, digital cellular phone, and so on .[3] dedicated functions was brought to the fore. Underlying the digital revolution was the Most embedded systems are encapsulated within development of the digital electronic computer, the the main working frame of the device being personal computer, and particularly the controlled. The widespread and diverse natures microprocessor with its steadily increasing of the system as seen in the numerous performance, which enabled computer technology to applications confirm the revolution of this be embedded into a huge range of objects. ubiquitous system. Actually, the digital revolution prepared the stage for the emergence of embedded system KEY WORDS: dedicated function, digital revolution. This is a revolution within another; thus revolution, embedded system, microcontrollers, embedded system revolution is seen as embedded ubiquitous system into digital revolution. With the advent of microprocessors, several product opportunities that I. INTRODUCTION simply did not exist earlier have opened up. These The world has witnessed several intelligent processors have invaded and embedded technological revolutions. The first was the themselves into all fields of our lives and this industrial revolution which marked a major turning ubiquity of embedded systems is increasing in our point in history as almost every aspect of daily life daily lives [4]. This is due to the fact that recently was influenced in some way. It began in Britain and embedded systems have gained an enormous amount within a few decades spread to Western Europe and of processing power and functionality. Now, many the United States. The Industrial Revolution was the of the formerly external components can be transition to new manufacturing processes that integrated into a single System-on-Chip. This occurred in the 18th century. [1]This transition tendency has resulted in a dramatic reduction in the included going from hand production methods to size and cost of embedded systems. As a unique machines, new chemical manufacturing and iron technology, the design of embedded systems is an production processes, improved efficiency of water essential element of many innovations. Embedded power, the increasing use of steam power and systems can be regarded today as some of the most development of machine tools. The transition also lively research and industrial targets. In this field, included the change from wood and other bio-fuels the ever-increasing demand for computing power to coal. This was followed by electronic revolution and any sort of system resources continuously which refers to the changes that electronic media challenges state-of-the-art design methodologies and such as television, radio and now the Internet have development techniques. introduced into our lives. The changes that have According to a report by research company resulted from these technologies have truly IDC, a division of International Data Group, the revolutionized the way we do everything from market for embedded computer systems, which communicating to commuting, from reading and already generates more than US$1 trillion in revenue writing to listening and perceiving. [2] annually, will double in size over the next four 610 | P a g e P.I. Okwu and I.N. Onyeje / International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) ISSN: 2248-9622 www.ijera.com Vol. 3, Issue 4, Jul-Aug 2013, pp.610-616 years. Furthermore, IDC predicted that much of this processor [4]. Many embedded systems also interact growth will be propelled by more sophisticated, with their physical environment using a variety of cloud-connected embedded systems, which will have sensors and/or actuators. They are typically used faster chips, better connectivity and more advanced over long periods of time, will not be programmed operating systems and analytical software. [5] The or maintained by its end-users, and often face report, equally states that by 2015, more than 4 significantly different design constraints such as billion units will be shipped, which will create $2 limited memory, low cost, strict performance trillion in revenue. Moreover, embedded systems guarantees, fail-safe operation, low power, reliability will require 14.5 billion microprocessor cores by and guaranteed real-time behavior. 2015. The importance of embedded systems is 2.1. CHARACTERISTICS undisputed as embedded systems imply economical Embedded systems are unique in several power. Thus, with the constant evolution of ways. First, when compared with PCs, embedded electronic devices and software technologies, there systems are dedicated to specific tasks, hence will be more and more Embedded Systems another name for an embedded microprocessor is a integrated into any kind of equipment. According to dedicated microprocessor. It is programmed to Information Technologies Study on Worldwide perform only one, or perhaps, a few, specific tasks. trends in Embedded Systems, today, Europe is a Consequently, changing the task is usually major player in the field of Embedded Systems associated with the entire system becoming obsolete while the US is the worldwide leader in the area of and thus will result in redesigning it. Secondly, they traditional computing and data processing, Thus, are usually cost sensitive. Here, the cost that is Europe has driven the revolution in Embedded mostly considered is system cost , in particular the Systems. [6] cost of the processor. That is why microcontrollers Despite the fact that embedded technology are preferred to microprocessors. Another feature of is now in its prime, the wealth of knowledge embedded systems is that they have real-time available is already is overwhelmingly impressive. constraints. They are generally are put into two Embedded systems are a rapidly growing industry categories: Time-sensitive constraints and Time- where growth opportunities are numerous. The uses critical constraints. If a task is time-critical, it must of embedded systems are virtually limitless, because take place within a set time or the function every day new products are introduced to the market controlled by the task fails .On the other hand a that utilizes embedded computers in novel ways. time-sensitive task can die gracefully. Furthermore, The objectives of this study are to provide an software failure is far less tolerable in an embedded assessment of the current state of the Embedded system than in an average desktop PC. This does not Systems as a whole and also to provide a better imply that that the software never fails in an understanding of the trends of embedded systems embedded system. It is just that most embedded ubiquity. systems typically contain some mechanisms such as The thesis is divided into five chapters. a watchdog timer, to bring it back to life if the Chapter one deals with the introduction. In chapter software loses control. two, a survey of embedded systems evolution was Embedded systems often have power discussed. Furthermore, in chapter three, the constraints because they must work reliably and for ubiquitous revolution of embedded systems was a long time on a set of small batteries. It is unlike the studied. The emerging trends in embedded systems CPU which needs a massive heat sink and fan are described in chapter four. Finally, chapter five assembly to keep the processor from baking itself to contains the conclusion and suggestions for further death. Most desktop PCs have plenty of space inside work. to allow for good airflow. For efficient performance of an embedded system, the processor is in the sleep II. A SURVEY OF EMBEDDED mode most of the time and only wakes up when a SYSTEMS EVOLUTION time tick occurs. In other words, the system is An embedded system is a computer system completely interrupt driven. Thus, power constraints designed to do one or a few dedicated and/or impact every aspect of the system design decisions. specific functions often with real-time computing Power constraints affect the processor choice, its constraints. It is embedded as part of a complete speed and its memory architecture. [8] device often including hardware and mechanical Since embedded systems are everywhere, parts. [7] It is the application rather than the they must be prepared to operate under extreme hardware itself that defines the embedded system. environmental conditions, for example , run in For instance, a PC used in as a general-purpose aircraft, in the polar ice, in the outer space and so on. computer in an office or home is an embedded In addition, since embedded systems are dedicated system.