The challenge of Embedded Systems
Embedded systems or programmable components are combinations of hardware and software whose purpose is to control a device, process or larger system. Embedded systems may control the ABS of a car or operation of its engine; the automatic pilot of an aircraft; the chipset and software within a digital TV set-top box; the integrity of a pacemaker; chips within telecom switching equipment; ambient devices, and nuclear reactor controls (including its sensors, actuators, control algorithms, and filters). The importance of embedded systems grows constantly. In 2003, there were an estimated 8 billion embedded programmable components worldwide. Conservative estimates foresee a doubling of this figure by 2010 to 3 embedded devices for every person on Earth.