Introduction
Currently, the world has advanced with innovative technological applications in an embedded system built on platforms of single-board-based technology. Various fields and platforms have received an increased application of embedded systems, providing increased flexibility for interfacing communication protocols (De Micco et al., 2019). System-on-Chip (SoC) and the Internet of Things (IoT) have provided debugging tools to create newer opportunities and challenge the development of future improved system applications. The area of embedded systems has received massive development because of emerging platforms dependent on computers and embedded systems for controlling and monitoring all matters autonomously (Patil & Tupe, 2020). Embedded systems have played a vital role in various aspects of modern life, influencing wide-ranging sectors of individuals, including businesses and healthcare. Therefore, this paper aims at exploring various trends in embedded systems due to advancements in technology.
An embedded system entails integrating technical and mechanical components, software, and computer hardware dedicated to performing specific tasks or sets of functions as part of a more extensive system. The majority of embedded systems require a meeting of real-time computing prerequisites. According to Medvedev et al. (2018), major components of an embedded system include integrated chips, printed circuit board assembly, industry-specific interfaces and protocols, real-time operating systems (RTOS), and microcontrollers or digital signal processors. The latest trends in the embedded system include SoC, IoT, wireless connectivity, power consumption, multicore processors, and operating systems.
System-on-Chip (SoC)
SoC represents the integrated circuit design revolution due to technological advancements that allow integrating crucial subsystems and components, making electronic products onto integrated chipset or single chip. SoC has reduced cost, size, power consumption, and increased performance capabilities. The development of real-time embedded systems has utilized these main factors (Patil & Tupe, 2020). Currently, the main SoC designs involve at least a programmable processor and integration of high-speed bus system, peripheral buses, on-chip communication structures processor bus, reduced instruction set computing (RISC) control processor, and digital signal processor. SoC processors also found it essential to link off-chip and the hierarchy of on-chip memory units (De Micco et al., 2019). Future SoC will require incorporating chemical processing and MEMS-based actuators and sensors.
Internet of Things (IoT) and Wireless Connectivity
IoT entails interconnected computing devices, people, objects, and digital and analog machines offering unique identifiers and the probability of transferring data autonomously over a network. The evolution of IoT has occurred due to the convergence of micro-electromechanical systems, wireless technologies, and the internet. The convergence of these technologies and devices enhances system analysis, giving insight into improvements (Greco et al., 2020). IoT has increased the automation and development of smart homes and cities. In the near future, the state of the art of embedded technologies is projected to grow drastically to meet the increasing demand in different industries that use the technology. The technology world is undergoing unprecedented changes, with the mobile phone market experiencing surged forward innovation, technology, and revenue earned.
Over the past years, embedded devices operated as stand-alone systems, and the advancement of wireless connectivity changed this scenario. According to Zurawski (2018), there is speculation that short and long-range wireless protocols will receive widespread applications in the near future. These long-range protocols include cellular communications, long-term evolution (LTE), wireless local area network, and WiMAX, while short-range include near field communications, RFID, Zigbee, and Bluetooth. Current trends in wireless connectivity for applications in embedded systems include short-range protocol applications, reduced power utilization, system-on-chip architecture, and the internet of things.
Multicore Processors
There has been an increasing need for high performance in embedded systems due to additional functionalities. As a result, system design developers have increased their knowledge about multicore processors to make the right decisions. Multicore processors have also become a sub-specialization due to their demand for low thermal in small form factor settings. Chip manufacturers have created faster single-core processors to meet the increasing demand for performance prerequisites. Devices, smartphones, and gaming consoles are multicores in the current world, thereby getting smarter (Gerstlauer & Shrivastava, 2022). The technologies have also provided an avenue for design engineers to relearn the design, testing, debugging, programming, architecture, and design space to remain informed about new optimal power use offered by multicore. Multicore processors resolve the need to combine multiple OS on the same system and mix new features with legacy codes.
Contrary to traditional embedded systems that constitute multiple subsystems, a highly integrated system can be developed to run on a single processing system, which decreases maintenance and manufacturing costs by eliminating redundant hardware. In the near future, to achieve multiprocessing functionalities by embedded systems, there could be a need for migrating existing systems to multicore platforms (Jayaprakasam et al., 2017). The adoption of multicore processors will rely on the rate at which technology standardization about programming methodologies, compilers, RTOS, debuggers, and integrated development environments are adopted in the whole technology ecosystem. Advancement in processor design underscores increased clock speed, efficiency, power consumption, and integrated graphics performance. The convergence of devices features and technologies are occurring rapidly, posing a need for connectivity that drives electronic device designs (De Micco et al., 2019). Because of risking security attacks, embedded systems components such as applications, operating systems, and processors require having better security features to handle security challenges and preserve personal and professional information.
Power Consumption
Power consumption has been an integral differentiator amid available embedded systems. Some applications need an extension of battery life to specific periods, which when using intelligent scheduling of reception and transmission become only helpful to a certain extent. Therefore, manufacturers of embedded systems have become responsible for reducing power consumption, considering aspects like the time interval by allowing devices in radio communications to remain in sleep mode when not in use. Enhanced processing power in electronic devices has driven the need to have better video processing for professional and personal data transfers (Patil & Tupe, 2020). Innovation application use is developed to use converged platforms and social networking to share the video across devices.
Operating Systems in Embedded Systems
Traditionally embedded systems lacked operating systems; instead, they used lightweight control programs that offered limited memory services and input/outputs. However, the increase in complexity among systems made it inevitable to have operating systems that allow real-time responses and low latency while continuously giving traditional functionality, including error checking, memory protection, and transparent inter-process communication. The increased functionality of embedded systems has enhanced its application to national defense, aerospace, automotive electronics, industrial controls, consumer electronics, and communications. When operating source toolchains, the introduction of multicore also requires multi-board debugging, multiprocessor, multiprocess, multithread, and multimission. Jayaprakasam et al. (2017) posit that this has shifted designs away from proprietary operating systems and toolchains, opting for more open-source platforms for deployment and development. The key differentiator of new system designs has cost. Smartphones and most new handheld devices use android operating systems.
Mobile devices, networks, and real-time applications make embedded systems highly important. Some of the contributors to the trends in embedded systems include the increasing growth of aerospace, consumer electronic applications, military, and healthcare. Embedded highly customizable systems have driven innovation with varieties of programming strategies. Medvedev et al. (2018) assert that the increase in embedded systems has resulted in new design software and techniques specific to those systems. Embedded systems have become vital to the modern world, and the Python programming language has become popular among software developers and embedded systems engineers. The diversity of python and its popularity in system architectures has placed it in an ideal position to begin programming embedded electronics in the future. The simplicity of python has resulted in effective collaboration leading to faster development of projects that push technology forward.
Regardless of global economic turbulence, continued investments would provide more efficient and innovative solutions in the embedded domain to cater to existing trends. According to Medvedev et al. (2018), the rapid changing and growth of the embedded market will make individuals and companies constantly develop and innovate low power, fast, efficient, and cost-effective solutions to consumers. Therefore, trends in embedded systems will affect an individual’s choices when making purchase recommendations for a client. These trends influence memory allocation, compatibility and integrity, safety and security risks, energy efficiency, and cost. With increasing cyberattacks, safety and security risks will be a significant concern in trends like the Internet of Things. During purchase recommendations, consumers will require a system designed to guarantee their safety of personal information and preservation of confidentiality.
Energy consumption influences the cost of operation and potentially affects the consumer budget. Therefore, the trends in embedded systems focus on developing systems that are energy efficient and less costly (Patil & Tupe, 2020). Consumers will be recommended to purchase less expensive systems with higher performance and less energy consumption. Efficient systems with higher performance will make it easier for clients to meet their desired outcomes. Over the years, there has been an increasing need for more extensive data storage due to big data. As a result, memory allocation of embedded systems will affect client recommendations. Clients will require a system with sufficient memory storage to handle increasing data and provide real-time information.
Conclusion
In conclusion, embedded systems form an integral part of the modern world. The systems are purpose-built for particular applications, enabling design and optimization, making it probable for a client to benefit from using it while minimizing power consumption and cost. Studies show that embedded systems have greatly influenced healthcare, military, and businesses, with technologies and movements such as the industrial revolution, the Internet of Things, and intelligent vehicles and homes continuing to gain traction. The telecommunication industry contains the most significant market shares of embedded systems applications applied in networks interrelated to wireless communications and a segment of microcontrollers. Some of the trends in embedded systems include artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, cybersecurity, machine learning, speeds, and python programming language. The trends in embedded systems influence clients’ recommendations using the products. They have different needs and preferences like safety and confidentiality, data storage, performance speeds, power consumption, and cost. It is depicted that embedded systems are evolving, focusing on increasing performance speeds, developing cybersecurity systems, less power consumption, and cost-efficient.
Reference
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