What you need to know about Embedded Software Development in IoT

Briefly, an embedded system is a micro-computer with software developed for a specific set of functions. The simplest example is your fitness tracker or microwave oven. You can find it on nearly all devices from your daily routine.
It is currently expected that the global embedded system market will grow to $137,31 billion by 2027. If we check the period of 2020-2027, we’ll get a CAGR of 6,7%. It shows that it is worth investing in embedded programming.

An embedded system in IoT consists of multiple components. However, we can generalize three elements that form the foundation of any device.

The hardware of an embedded system is the most complex element. It includes the following:

• Power supply;
• Microcontrollers or microprocessors;
• ROM and RAM;
• Timers or counters;
• Communication ports;
• Output and input;
• Electrical circuit components.

Of course, specific elements like timers are not always required. However, the system won’t function without a power supply or input panel. Each detail plays a vital role within the device.

Embedded software and IoT are interconnected. Just like with hardware, the software includes multiple components:

• Editors;
• Compilers;
• Assemblers;
• Emulators;
• Linkers;
• Debuggers.

Apart from the technical part, it is also necessary to note the horizontal and vertical applications in IoT.
Vertical software is designed to meet the needs of one company in a specific industry. For example, think of all the sensors, production automation, and other devices used in the industrial area.
Horizontal software connects many users from different industries. IT infrastructure is a prominent example because it usually supports cloud technologies and is integrated into multiple business processes.

An embedded OS is created to fulfill a specific task in a device. It usually comes with restricted functionality to increase its efficiency when completing the task it is made for.
Embedded operating systems come in different versions:

• Single-System Control Loop;
• Multi-Tasking;
• Rate Monotonic;
• Preemptive;
• Real-Time.

Each comes with certain pros and cons. The development team will choose the most appropriate option based on your project’s goals.

Python is easy to learn and provides comprehensive data collection, management, and visualization of results. Automation of repetitive resource-costly data handling tasks with Python scripts helps reliably make them repeatable and traceable. Python comes with various graphing libraries, enabling you to create graphs for any data visualization needs, from simple to interactive plots.

Many people confuse these two terms, thinking they are identical. Find out the difference between firmware vs. embedded software below.

In general, firmware is designed as low-level software that makes a single-purpose device work. The simplest example is a traffic light or digital camera. If you’ve ever used BIOS/UEFI, then you’ve already seen the way firmware works. It is present in most computer components and is integrated into the device’s motherboard.

Although embedded software is also created for a specific device, it works more like an operating system. It covers a broader aspect. For instance, if you launch an MP3 player, embedded software will be the feature that runs the device. Both terms are very similar and different at the same time.

Every second, 127 devices from various industries connect to the Internet for the first time. Check out the most common areas below.

1.Manufacturing
IoT is the driving force in manufacturing, speeding up processes, and helping businesses reduce expenses. It is the best approach in automation as well. Our developers have created an IoT hardware and mobile application specifically for this industry.

2.Healthcare
Recent trends have significantly boosted the usage of the Internet of Things and embedded devices in the healthcare industry. The solutions vary from tracking systems to fully-fledged medical machines. In addition, various scientists mention that IoT helps redesign modern healthcare for the best.

3.Smart buildings
The global building automation market is projected to reach $273 billion by 2023, making it a prospective area for development. The technology involves multiple solutions for climate control, fire detection, electrical usage, and others. Our team has previously created a smart intercom system in this industry.

4.Consumer electronics
Consumer spending on IoT systems is already at $123 billion. This broad area involves smart home devices, digital assistants, personal devices, and a ton of others. As time goes by, consumer goods will connect even more technologies within the industry.

During embedded software development, engineers usually apply various programming languages. They differ by efficiency, functionality, and other criteria. Below are the four most common programming languages used in embedded system development.

Although Python is an interpreted language, it has recently gained immense popularity in embedded systems. Its significant advantage is high development speed and the possibility to use AI algorithms. Also, the language is considered most effective when it is set as a mediator between the user and the system.

C++ is an object-oriented programming language that lets developers apply the templates, reach low-level components, and use minimum memory resources. However, the language is very complex and requires some effort.

Java’s popularity in embedded systems isn’t any different from software solutions. Developers prefer this language because it’s easy to detect and fix errors. Additionally, it has robust security standards and great portability to various CPUs.

C# is another object-oriented programming language. It supports multiple architectures and is usually applied for high-end embedded systems like smartphones. Also, it’s as complex as any language from the C family.

The development lifecycle of embedded software is divided into six stages.

We start by analyzing your project’s requirements and planning all the processes from A to Z. The project manager sets deadlines for each stage and calculates the required resources.

Our embedded software engineers create the preliminary version of your product. It’s more like prototyping to understand the best architecture for the solution.

This is where the development team builds the embedded software. Our professionals apply all their skills and experience to provide an efficient solution.

Before we deploy the solution, our quality assurance team ensures the software is bug-free. QAs perform multiple tests to detect all kinds of issues. If no errors are detected, we move to the production phase.

At this stage, you get a fully-fledged product and apply it in the industry. It is distributed on all devices and deployed into the marketplace.

The embedded development team provides constant updates and fixes errors if any are detected. It lets you cover the complete embedded software development lifecycle.

An IoT engineer must possess a huge variety of skills. These include:

• Deep understanding of programming and network security;
• Expertise in ML and AI;
• Knowledge of Linux OS;
• Extensive background with front-end and back-end systems, and others.

The required skillset depends a lot on the project, although our embedded system development team is ready for any challenge. Learn what makes a good embedded software engineer in our previous article.
Most companies prefer outsourcing IoT and embedded development because it’s faster, cheaper, and more efficient.

An increasing number of companies apply embedded software to increase the efficiency of their technological solutions. Demand for developers grows, but creating an in-house team isn’t always the best choice for costs and efficiency.
Oriented Soft is an outsourcing provider of IoT development services with 50+ successful cases. Are you ready to get all the advantages of embedded technologies? Hire our embedded software developers now!