EMBEDDED
The challenge lies in system configuration
Figure 1:
As more cores become available, costs can be saved by reducing the number of distributed embedded systems to a single edge computing platform
As the number of embedded processor cores increases, there are cost savings to be made by reducing the number of distributed embedded systems to a single edge computing platform, which is then responsible for handling all tasks. Such system consolidation requires optimum balancing of the computing cores and virtual machines. Computer-on- Modules in combination with real-time capable virtual machines make this performance balancing particularly easy. Here Zeljko Loncaric marketing engineer at congatec explores
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s the world becomes more and more connected and digitised, the systems embedded in devices, plants,
machines, cobots, trains, buses, commercial vehicles or construction and agricultural machinery are expected to handle an ever- increasing number of tasks. As a result, the once closed embedded systems are turning into gateways and central communication instances of their ‘hosts’. Whereas in the past their only role was to control the specific application, they are now becoming increasingly interactive and multi-layered. They can receive and process workloads automatically, collaborate with humans,
40 MAY 2021 | ELECTRONICS TODAY
recognise objects around them, analyse all these things, and find their own way independently, communicate, send reports, and optimise themselves constantly – simulated in advance on digital twins. They can receive function updates and security patches, request maintenance, allow functions to be switched on and off remotely, monitor usage within the subscription economy – accurately and tamper-proof, which is key for correct pay-per-use billing. All communications are also analysed. After all, you must know who or what can access what and how! Communication anomalies need to be identified urgently and domains managed securely. Particularly
when applications must fall on the safe side if something goes wrong to safeguard life and limb. IP manipulation must therefore be prevented at all costs. IP theft, too, of course. These are all major challenges for OEMs! Currently, the state-of-the-art IT solution is to implement the individual functions in encapsulated containers above the host operating system so that access to these functions can be clearly defined. However, for many applications across a wide range of industries where a real-time system must run in parallel with the not-so-real-time-critical communications, this solution is inadequate. These systems are also increasingly connected in real time, via Time Sensitive
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