How to Get Started with
an Embedded Project?

An embedded project is the development of a system that combines hardware and software and often has limited resources such as memory, processing power, and energy. The creation of such projects usually begins with defining requirements and selecting appropriate hardware components, such as sensors, actuators, and communication modules. Then developers design the software, including the firmware that runs directly on the hardware and any higher-level applications or interfaces required.

Developers must take several important steps to begin an embedded project:

• Learn the basics of embedded systems: If you are not already familiar with embedded projects, learn the fundamentals of embedded systems, including concepts such as GPIO (general-purpose input/output), interrupts, timers, communication protocols (e.g., UART, SPI, I2C), and low-level programming languages such as C and assembly language.
• Start small: Begin with a simple project to gain hands-on experience; gradually increase the complexity as you become more comfortable with the hardware and software aspects of embedded development.
• Define the project scope and requirements: Clearly define the purpose of your embedded project and outline its functionality, performance requirements, constraints, and target environment. Determine the needed hardware components and sensors.

• Select the hardware platform: Choose a suitable microcontroller or microprocessor platform, considering factors such as processing power, memory, input/output capabilities, and available development tools and support.
• Set up the development environment: Install the necessary software tools and development environments for your chosen hardware platform. This typically includes an integrated development environment (IDE), compiler, debugger, and any additional libraries or frameworks needed.
• Experiment and iterate: Explore different sensors, actuators, and communication modules to expand your skills and understanding of embedded systems. Experiment with various hardware configurations and software algorithms and be prepared to iterate on your design based on testing and feedback.
• Use online resources and communities: Take advantage of online resources, tutorials, forums, and communities dedicated to embedded development. Websites such as GitHub, Stack Overflow, and embedded-specific forums can provide valuable guidance, code examples, and troubleshooting assistance.
• Document: Write down the details about your project, including schematics, source code, datasheets, and other notes. Documenting your progress and findings will not only help you understand your project better but will also assist others who want to replicate or build upon your work.

These are general suggestions; the embedded system development process will vary depending on the project and the team’s level of experience.

Once your team has completed the initial steps, you will look ahead to the following important stages of embedded project development:

• Software development: Develop the software that will run on the embedded hardware. This includes writing firmware code to control the hardware peripherals, implement algorithms, and manage system behavior. Choose a programming language suitable for embedded systems, such as C, C++, or assembly language. Develop any higher-level applications or interfaces required for user interaction or system management.
• Integration and testing: Integrate the hardware and software components to create the complete embedded system. Conduct thorough testing to verify functionality, performance, and reliability. Test individual modules and subsystems, as well as the system as a whole, using techniques such as unit testing, integration testing, and system testing. Address any bugs or issues uncovered during testing and refine the design as needed.
• Optimization and performance tuning: Optimize the embedded system for performance, efficiency, and resource utilization. Identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement in both the hardware and software. Implement optimizations such as code refactoring, algorithm optimization, and power-saving techniques to enhance the system’s overall performance and usability.
• Validation and verification: Validate the embedded system against the defined requirements to ensure that it meets the desired functionality and performance criteria. Verify that the system operates correctly under various conditions and scenarios, including normal operation, edge cases, and error conditions. Conduct validation testing with real-world inputs and environments to validate the system’s behavior and reliability.
• Deployment and maintenance: Deploy the embedded system in its target environment and ensure proper installation and setup. Provide documentation, training, and support as needed for end users or stakeholders. Establish a plan for ongoing maintenance, updates, and troubleshooting to address any issues that could arise post-deployment. Monitor the system’s performance and collect feedback for future enhancements or improvements.

Be aware that some additional factors, beyond the foundational considerations discussed above, will influence the success of any embedded project:

• Environmental conditions: The system’s resilience against variables including temperature, humidity, and electromagnetic interference must be accounted for in its design.
• Lifecycle costs: These encompass not only development and deployment but also maintenance and eventual decommissioning.
• Regulatory compliance: Adherence to safety standards and industry-specific regulations is necessary and often involves rigorous testing and certification procedures.
• User interface and experience: Ensure that the system prompts interactions that are intuitive, accessible, and responsive to the user.

• Data management and storage: Strategies must include concerns such as data persistence, integrity, and security.
• Communication protocols: These must facilitate seamless interaction with other devices or systems, with considerations for wired and wireless options as well as compatibility with existing infrastructure.
• Supply chain management: Sourcing reliable components and materials while mitigating risk of disruptions is critical for project continuity.
• Future scalability: Expansion must be anticipated, with the design accommodating potential upgrades, additions, or technological advancements.

Integrating these considerations into the project planning process ensures the robustness, reliability, and effectiveness of the embedded system.

VxWorks

VxWorks^® is the industry’s most trusted and widely deployed real-time operating system (RTOS) for mission-critical embedded systems that must be secure and safe. It delivers a proven, real-time, and deterministic runtime combined with a modern approach to development. Regardless of industry or device type, companies building intelligent edge systems rely on the VxWorks pedigree of security, safety, high performance, and reliability.

Its key features include:

• Extensive multi-core and multiprocessing support
• OCI containers
• Security
• Certifiability
• Rich connectivity and communications
• Broad board support
• Customization and tuning

• Virtualization
• Fault-tolerant file system
• Multimedia
• AI/ML
• Python
• Feedback loops

Wind River Linux

Wind River^® Linux enables teams to develop, deploy, and operate robust, reliable, and secure embedded solutions running on a purpose-built Linux operating system. Avoid the risk and effort associated with roll-your-own (RYO) or unsupported silicon vendor Linux. Rely on Wind River to keep your code base up to date and to track and fix defects, apply security patches, avoid technical debt, and customize purpose-built Linux to adhere to strict market specifications and certifications. Wind River can also facilitate IP and export compliance and significantly reduce operational costs.

Wind River Studio Linux Services

Leverage Wind River experts’ comprehensive knowledge and expertise to unlock the full potential of open source. Wind River Studio Linux Services can dramatically reduce the risks and time associated with creating and integrating new technologies, offering insights, expertise, and resources built from more than 40 years of leadership in the embedded software industry.

We work with your development teams so they can focus on their core competencies and deliver market-leading devices, systems, and networks. We help your teams bring safe, secure, reliable, and compliant products to market by offering prepackaged services including:

• Security and compliance scanning: CVE and vulnerabilities scanning, to ensure that the product is compliant at a point in time
• Security and compliance analysis and remediation: IP compliance gap analysis and recommendations plus discovery and vulnerability resolution on the current platform for high-impact issues
• Lifecycle security: Ongoing monitoring, mitigation, and management of security issues through the entire product lifecycle
• Lifecycle performance assurance: Services to manage, test, document, and Q&A open source solutions in the field, plus daily monitoring, reception of online submissions, and delivery of emergency fixes through 10 or more years of the product lifecycle
• Architecture and implementation: Access to our multi-industry expertise to build a more competitive product, along with support for companies with critical product development looking for differentiation and performance for their businesses

Wind River Services and Support

Wind River offers a variety of professional services, backed by real-time and embedded experts, to help businesses with their embedded system and real-time development and lifecycle journeys. With decades of experience in developing, deploying, and maintaining intelligent, real-time embedded systems, Wind River is a true go-to-market partner, helping businesses simultaneously meet SLA commitments and support customers with their own advancing IP. With a 97% customer service rating, Wind River consistently achieves some of the highest support scores in the industry.

Our support services include:

• Design Services: Create differentiated IP by drawing on decades of experience across industries and applications. Visit Wind River Studio Design Services.
• Managed Services: Let us manage the development and deployment of your OS platform. Learn more at Wind River Studio Managed Services.
• Safety and certification: Draw on our deep industry experience in achieving safety certification across most major industries. See more at Wind River Safety and Certification.
• Security Services: Arm yourself with our expertise in securing mission-critical and intelligent systems against ever-evolving threats. Visit Wind River Studio Security Services.
• Lifecycle management: Expand the possibilities for value in your programs by leveraging our unique expertise. Learn more about Wind River Studio Lifecycle Management.
• Education: Take advantage of learning and formal education to upskill and accelerate the reskilling of your technical teams. See Wind River Studio Education Services.