Safety for increasing on-chip module

Glitch Filters
Spurious events at input pins can cause functional failures to a chip. Critical pins like reset and interrupt can have glitch filters to stop noise and transient spikes from getting in.

Redundant critical on-chip modules like processor, ISO, DMA controller, internal clock generator, and communications peripherals can improve reliability should a primary hardware module become non-functional while the vehicle is running. Such a system can have in-built error detection mechanisms and on-the-fly switching to redundant hardware to mitigate threats to passenger safety.
But this kind of redundant hardware architecture comes with the penalty of increased area and higher power management in silicon. Area penalties can be minimized by intelligent selection of which functions need to be duplicated in silicon. Power can be minimized by adopting power and clock gating in the redundant modules. Some  in-vehicle computers can be implemented in lock-step of each other, where primary and redundant modules process the same input. Mismatch in the output of the lock-step modules indicates a defect in either of the modules. The system can switch itself off or take appropriate safety measures to avoid any real-time failure. Redundant hardware should be placed quite far in silicon from the primary embedded systems to avoid tampering of both modules together.

refer to: http://www.edn.com/design/automotive/4421704/Safety---security-architecture-for-automotive-ICs

Leveraging IT Technology for industrial controls applications

It is the author’s opinion that integration of the controls networking and the IT networking is inevitable. It became inevitable the moment the controls industry chose to use Ethernet as the medium with which to communicate data. The controls industry may choose to be dragged kicking and screaming into the modern communications era, or it can gracefully embrace the change. Embracing means the controls industry would be able to leverage the myriad rich, existing technologies that have been proven foolproof in the IT world. To be dragged kicking and screaming into the modern communications era would do a terrible injustice to those who have worked diligently to bring it about. This could quite possibly add an entirely new facet to the fieldbus wars, which I hope have not been forgotten.

With that said, the controls world is going to be moving with an industry that has a definite consumer bias, with product development and release cycles of six months or less. In an industry where the average life expectancy of an automotive production line is eight years, it is impossible to expect the networks in an industrial setting to keep up with modern IT standards. Therefore, we turn our attention to the technologies that have existed the longest, with the most open standards and the very best support. These are the protocols we wish to use and keep, and this article highlights and explains some of these technologies.

This article does not focus on the technical automation of each piece of technology. Rather, it is assumed the reader will be using packaged solutions such as a function block for a PLC. These packages typically require only that the user specifies the relevant server to connect to, the data to be gathered and an activation bit. The particulars of each protocol and concept are, ideally, transparent to the user, and therefore it is not pressing that the user understands what is contained in each packet passed between the server and the client. As each protocol described in this article is openly documented and supported, a simple search on the Internet for the technical details will likely yield the relevant implementation details.

refer to:
http://www.automation.com/leveraging-it-technology-for-industrial-controls-applications

Improved performance for the Intel chipset

Performance is critical in solutions Things-enabled factories, as it enables greater analysis of product quality, equipment performance, and other factors. Overall performance is up 15 percent in the new processors, while signal and image processing get an additional 2x boost with Intel Advanced Vector Extensions (Intel AVX) 2.0. As shown in, Intel AVX 2.0 introduces a fully pipelined Fused Multiply Add (FMA3) that provides twice embedded systems performance of the previous generation for the multiply-add workloads common in image processing. Intel AVX 2.0 also extends integer vector processing from 128 bits to 256 bits, also doubling throughput for many fanless embedded systems workloads. Along the way we’ll present examples where members of the Intel Intelligent Systems Alliance are taking advantage of the new embedded systems.

refer to:

http://embedded-computing.com/articles/transform-factory-the-intel-core-processor/

Valves and actuators device review

Although the basic technology for most valves and actuators has remained unchanged, innovative applications and design modifications for problem solving have led to notable improvements in actuator technology. These improvements can reduce costs by supporting the control valve's ability to throttle accurately, thereby providing better performance for high-pressure steam bypass, turbine bypass and other critical power plant operations. Actuators regulate mass and energy flows by adjusting valves, flaps and cocks.

They work in harsh environments, and they get little or no recognition. But their impact on power plant efficiency can be significant. Valves and actuators are critical in almost every aspect of single board computer. They are used in a wide range of applications, including pollution control, feed water, cooling water, chemical treatment, bottom ash and steam turbine control embedded systems.
refer to: http://www.power-eng.com/articles/print/volume-117/issue-8/features/opportunities-to-improve-efficiency.html

Research for tele-health and embedded system

Go to doctor’s office. Wait. See embedded computer Primary Care Physician. Get tested. Wait. Get referred to specialist. Get retested. Wait. Get referred to another specialist. Wait. See how much insurance covers. Pay accordingly.

This is just one example of why telehealth strategies are poised to revolutionize medicine. Telehealth not only provides quick access to specialists, but can also remotely monitor patients and reduce clinical expenses. Many of the systems needed to realize these benefits will operate on the edge, and require technology with the portability and price point of commercial mobile platforms, as well as the flexibility to perform multiple functions securely and in real time. All of this embedded computer must be provided in a package that can meet the rigors of certification and scale over long lifecycle deployments.

refer to: http://smallformfactors.com/articles/qseven-coms-healthcare-mobile/

Embedded system development within 5 years

Over the next five years, I expect the industry to continue the shift to products that are better suited to modification. Customers will be able to define specific needs and the suppliers will be able to quickly configure products to meet those needs. Here are a couple of the responses that we got back. Mass customization! Embedded computer Applications are increasingly pushing the limits of embedded boards in multiple directions. Customer requirements are perpetually requesting more channels, additional interconnects, increased processing performance, adding specific features, ruggedizing, etc., while at the same time pushing for smaller sizes, lower power, lower cost, faster delivery, etc. These factors are often compelling system designers to look for existing solutions and COTS hardware. However, it is becoming more difficult to create a generic embedded system  product to satisfy all of these demands. So, I believe the embedded computing business will be changing to a mass customization model: quick-turn custom COTS boards, all-programmable systems centered on FPGAs, and a reconfigurable systems approach.

refer to: http://vita-technologies.com/articles/technically-trends-mass-customization-fpgas/

Demonstration on embedded mobile device

An example is the embedded multimedia card device, a nonvolatile memory option. It has all the features needed to support navigation and infotainment applications such as detailed 3D maps, traffic monitoring, meteorological information, car radio and multimedia, e-call, and voice recognition. Embedded multimedia card memory is a standardized version of the “managed NAND” memory architecture. It is essentially a module based on a bank of nonvolatile NAND flash devices and is internally managed by an ad hoc microcontroller.

refer to: http://embedded-computing.com/articles/automotive-industry-innovation-driven-electronics/#at_pco=cfd-1.0