18-349 Embedded Real-Time Systems Units: 12.0 Department: Electrical & Comp. Eng. Prerequisites: 18-240 and 15-213 Related URLs: http://www.ece.cmu.edu/ The term "computer" usually conjures up in the minds of many people the image of a mainframe, a minicomputer, a PC, a workstation or a laptop computer. However, computers have always been embedded into all sorts of everyday items from automobiles and planes to TVs, in-house entertainment centers and toasters. These are usually called embedded computers or embedded systems, and actually account for more than 90% of all the world's manufactured processors. In general, users of embedded systems see a specialized function (such as a High-Definition TV) and do not directly think of the computer embedded within the system. Such embedded computers are gaining importance as an increasing number of systems use embedded processors, RAM, disk drives, and networks. Embedded systems range in size from simple toasters and mini-robots to large-scale systems deployed in process control, manufacturing, power generation, defense systems, telecommunication systems, automotive systems, air traffic control, avionics, video-on-demand and video-conferencing systems. Embedded systems also differ from their conventional PC or workstation cousins in several ways. Embedded systems are typically used over long periods of time, will not (or cannot) be programmed or maintained by its end-users, and often face significantly different design constraints such as limited memory, low cost, strict performance guarantees, fail-safe operation, low power, reliability and guaranteed real-time behavior. These embedded systems often use simple executives (OS kernels) or real-time operating systems with typically small footprints, support for real-time scheduling and no hard drives. This introductory course on embedded computing focuses on these issues germane to embedded systems.

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