Estimates suggest that between 2022 and 2030, the number of active Internet of Things (IoT) devices will double from 11.57 billion to 25.44 billion. This indicates an unsurprising, growing interest in IoT considering that:
- 83% of organizations report a significant increase in business efficiency due to IoT technology.
- Another 80% say that IoT systems have improved enterprise-wide visibility in their workplaces.
- 75% say that IoT has directly impacted their profitability.
The Internet of Things (IoT) consists of a network of “smart” physical devices (or “things”) embedded with sensors, actuators, and software. These devices interconnect with each other and exchange data over the Internet.
Today, we see IoT devices virtually everywhere – in automobiles and industrial machinery, power grids and traffic systems, thermostats, and refrigerators, and even fitness trackers, door locks, and baby monitors!
The IoT facilitates seamless communications between things, processes, and even people. And embedded systems play a crucial role in making this happen. This article explores the close connection between embedded systems and IoT, and why IoT cannot exist without embedded systems.
What is an Embedded System?
An embedded system exists within a more extensive mechanical or electrical system. The term “embedded” means that the system is hidden inside another system, so it’s not visible to the naked eye.
Embedded systems combine customized software with customized hardware to do a specific job. The hardware usually includes a microcontroller or microprocessor, both of which contain an integrated circuit (IC). The software can be firmware, bootloaders, user interfaces, operating systems, etc., that perform a particular function.
Regardless of the form, the software is embedded into the system, which is why it cannot be updated once the system is assembled and has left the factory.
Where Do Embedded Systems Appear?
Each embedded system has a dedicated purpose or role and performs pre-defined tasks with specific requirements. That’s why it usually has limited computing power and memory and fewer connected peripherals.
These limitations notwithstanding, embedded systems offer unique capabilities such as real-time computing and high availability, making them highly suitable for many dedicated applications, such as:
- Internet routers and modems
- Heart monitors
- Mobile phones
- Washing machines
- Microwave ovens
- Drones
An embedded system can be as simple as a GPS-enabled tag attached to a bicycle or a complex system that’s part of an airplane or missile.
These systems are also key enablers of IoT networks, systems, and devices. In fact, embedded systems and the IoT work together to generate real value for real-world use cases in homes, factories, and offices and for a wide range of industries, including healthcare, finance, automotive, and agriculture.
The Evolution of Embedded Systems
To better comprehend the close-knit narrative of IoT and embedded systems, it helps to know just how embedded systems have evolved.
Embedded systems were traditionally built for a specific purpose, with little or no connectivity between them over wider networks or the Internet. Legacy systems were connected to each other via the low-speed, low-bandwidth RS-232 communication protocol that’s been around since the 1960s. The original objective of these simple systems was to facilitate the real-time processing of real-world information from sensors.
Today’s embedded systems are still built for a dedicated function. However, most of them are now more complex than the simple systems of the past. Further, embedded devices with sensors collect and exchange relevant data with each other that’s then sent via the Internet to an online cloud service, a smartphone, or some other Internet-connected device.
The Connection Between Embedded Systems and the IoT
Embedded systems communicate with each other and with the cloud via faster connectivity protocols and communication channels like 5G, Wi-Fi, and LoRa (long-range wireless). These protocols have larger bandwidth and use wireless means to speed up data exchange.
Without embedded systems that collect and process data and the Internet that transmits data – the IoT would not exist. This is what makes embedded systems such a critical element of the IoT revolution.
In fact, the IoT consists of a network of embedded systems, communication channels, and software that work together to form a hyperconnected network where the “physical world meets and cooperates with the digital world” (Oracle).
This is best explained with an example:
A smart home may consist of two “things”: a smart AC and a smartphone. These devices are both embedded systems. These systems are connected to each other and to the Internet and can communicate via Wi-Fi. Thus, the AC, smartphone, and Wi-Fi form an ecosystem of the Internet of Things for the home.
It’s important to note that all IoT devices have embedded systems. However, not all embedded systems – which predate the IoT by several decades – are IoT. That’s why embedded systems are a subset of IoT, while the reverse is not true.
The Importance of Software in Embedded Systems and the IoT
In addition to hardware and the Internet, another element connects embedded systems to the IoT. And that is software. By adding software plus a layer of communications technology that facilitates communication via the Internet, a non-connected embedded system can become part of an IoT system.
Here’s an example:
A heart pacemaker is an embedded system that monitors and regulates a patient’s heartbeat. On its own, the pacemaker is an embedded system. However, if the device is set up to transmit pulse reads to an Internet-connected smartphone and then to a cloud server, it can be accessed by a remote medical professional. Together, the pacemaker, phone, and cloud server form an IoT system.
Further, when the system is bolstered by Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and analytics, doctors can access a lot of data about their patients to gather quick insights, accelerate diagnoses, and provide better care.
Conclusion
From supply chains, logistics, transportation, to smart cities, smart homes, and smart factories – in the coming years, IoT will help improve and enhance the human experience in many ways. Embedded devices will play an increasingly important role in transforming this aspirational vision into a fabulous reality. Curious to know more about the real-world applications of embedded systems and IoT in your industry? Connect with us to discuss your IoT vision, and we’ll help you realize it.
