Today almost every product – be it a vehicle or high-tech medical equipment – works on embedded systems. Embedded systems are made up of tightly coupled hardware and software. So, if we take an example of a train with an automatic door, the software controls when the door opens and closes. Trends such as the Internet of Things (IoT), connected devices, and self-driving vehicles have further increased the demand for embedded systems.

Almost 90% of processors are a part of embedded systems. The market size of embedded systems is expected to reach $116.2 billion by 2025.

Given how critical embedded systems are in today’s world, companies need to invest in embedded testing. Embedded testing enables companies to test the software and hardware of embedded solutions. It helps companies identify and fix bugs in the hardware and software of critical systems and increases their chances of receiving the required certifications. Most importantly, considering that embedded systems are used for life-saving and mission-critical purposes, testing has to be done carefully. A single miss could pose a threat to someone’s life too. Hence, companies must remember that it’s very different from software testing and approach it accordingly.

How are Embedded Testing and Software Testing Different?

Embedded testing is quite different from software testing.

Types of testing

To begin with, software testing is limited to the software only. In embedded testing, the testing team needs to test both the software and the hardware of the system. Software testing mainly happens on client-server, web, and mobile-based applications. In software testing, companies do different types of tests such as accessibility, acceptance, integration, automated, black-box, and many more. Embedded testing goes beyond the software. In fact, it is done mainly on hardware. Software testing tests the functionalities of the applications, while embedded testing is focused on the hardware’s behavior. This doesn’t mean that software testing is sidelined or deprioritized in embedded testing. What it means is that the dependency on hardware is more.

Product launch

In the modern software development model, software testing is done along with development. So, the bugs are identified and fixed at an early stage. It helps the developers to build a better quality and secure product by design. This also helps the companies to launch the product quickly as development and testing happen simultaneously. In some cases of embedded testing, the software cannot be tested until the hardware is ready. Sometimes the custom tools are unavailable. The testers are compelled to wait till the late stages to test the product. The tight coupling of software and hardware might also lead to product launch delays.

Bug fixing

Another difference is that the bugs can be easily reproduced in software testing to allow testers to identify them and fix them confidently. However, the same method cannot be followed in embedded testing as the events have to be reproduced on the software and hardware level. The testers need to test every defect at a deeper level to find out the exact source. They have to collect more data to analyze the defects and may also have to alter the systems intentionally to fix the bugs.

Testing method

Unlike software testing, embedded testing relies mainly on manual testing. Considering that in embedded testing, both hardware and software are tested, automation testing could become complicated. However, it does not mean that the testing process cannot be automated. Testers could use modular and extensible testing environments to prevent any changes in the common hardware and software interface. In fact, testers could use specific automated testing tools that support the unique use case of embedded testing. This can help them perform embedded testing more efficiently and reduce the chances of errors that could potentially lead to life-threatening situations        

Conclusion

It’s clear that embedded testing has to be done differently to ensure that it is secure and functional. The skill sets would differ. Hence, companies need to work with a testing team that has expertise in testing embedded systems and ensuring that they are safe and compliant with the safety guidelines. It’s important to partner with a company that has specialized tools to test embedded systems. They must also follow the protocols and policies strictly.

At Intellore, we help companies in designing, developing, and testing embedded products. We also offer independent testing services that are tailor-made to the company’s business needs to ensure their compliance and safety.

To know more, contact us.