On Target: Embedded Systems

Security ~ Does Perceived Importance Lead to Change?

As you can see from the statistics shown here collected in our 2011 Embedded System Engineering Survey, security is becoming top of mind at many engineering organizations. Not only are more and more devices becoming connected to each other and the enterprise over the embedded cloud, but their software functionality is representing more value to end users and, in many cases, its compromise or failure can result can significant financial liabilities for OEMs. The larger question is what does this so called importance actually mean to embedded engineering organizations and does it translate to the implementation of development practices that... Read more →

Can Connected Cars Drive Automotive Ecosystem Evolution?

While we were at Embedded World last week, Intel announced two initiatives focused on the “connected car” concept: The opening of a new product development center in Germany and launch of a related academic program The launch of a $100 million Intel Capital Connected Car Fund, which “will invest in hardware, software and services companies that are developing leading-edge ingredient technology and platform capabilities that support Intel’s focus areas in automotive technology innovation” Within today’s automobile, the channels for end vehicle differentiation are changing. Now when a prospective buyers steps into the vehicle, the first thing most people look at... Read more →

Embedded Bits and Bytes – In case you missed these announcements from the last several weeks...

AdaCore, a supplier of Ada development tools and support services, announced a merger with SofCheck, Inc., a Lexington, Massachusetts-based automated software quality (ASQ) company. http://www.adacore.com/2012/01/10/adacore-sofcheck-merge/ Atego™, a software tools and professional services supplier, for complex, mission- and safety-critical systems and software engineering announced that it has secured an additional, multi-million dollar equity investment. http://www.atego.com/pressreleases/pressitem/atego-secures-major-multi-million-dollar-equity-investment Cavium, Inc. announced a technology and marketing collaboration with Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) to offer Intel® WiDi-based products designed to enable superior wireless display consumer experience. http://www.cavium.com/newsevents_Cavium_Collaborate_Intel.html Coverity announced record growth in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, achieving the highest Q1 bookings, revenues and new... Read more →

Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) – Boston 2011

VDC attended the 2011 Embedded Systems Conference in Boston on September 27 and 28 and held face-to-face meetings at the conference with over 20 exhibitors. This year’s ESC included greater than 100 exhibitors and was part of what UBM Electronics called Design Days Boston. Design Days Boston featured four events including ESC as part of one show including DesignMED North America, DesignCon East, and designing with LEDs. These four programs span a wide range of technologies and interests and were supported by numerous technical sessions. Conference organizers reported at the show that registration was up 10-15% year over year. During... Read more →

AVAILABLE NOW - VDC RELEASES EMBEDDED ENGINEERING SURVEY DATA FOR 2011

The 2011 engineering survey data reports provide insight into the behavior, opinions, and demographics of embedded engineers, the degree to which embedded system engineering tasks are converging, and key system engineering trends likely to impact embedded systems manufacturers and solution providers over the short and long term. This survey data is based on detailed Web survey responses collected worldwide in the March to July 2011timeframe and offers an understanding about the dynamics of the embedded market as they relate to current and future product development trends. This detailed data provides access to VDC’s extensive knowledge of the embedded engineering community... Read more →

Mobile and Embedded Virtualization Outlook

Engineer expectations are not always in line with reality While embedded engineers’ use of Mobile and Embedded Virtualization (MEV) software has increased only modestly over the last several years, respondents to VDC’s Embedded Engineering Survey continue to expect a significant increase in the use of MEV software in future projects. With the percentage of 2011 survey respondents who believe they will be using virtualization run-time software nearly doubling when considering a future project, these expectations are demonstrative of the potential revenue opportunities available for vendors in this space. However, VDC also believes that the expectations of engineers are not always... Read more →

Embedded Virtualization Has Disadvantages, Too

Leading vendors evangelize the benefits, but what are the drawbacks of this technology? Embedded virtualization has become an increasingly discussed topic in recent years, with leading vendors such as Enea, Green Hills Software, LynuxWorks, SYSGO, and Wind River each dedicating significant resources toward developing and marketing solutions that enable this technology. Webinars, white papers, and other marketing collateral abound, serving to evangelize the benefits of virtualization in the embedded space and promote acceptance and adoption within the engineering community. From lowered BOM costs through hardware consolidation to ease of software reuse and safe/secure partitioning, the potential benefits of embedded virtualization... Read more →

Embedded Systems Bulletin – May 2011

Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) – Silicon Valley 2011 VDC attended the 2011 Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose on May 3rd through May 5th and held face-to-face meetings at the conference with over 30 exhibitors. The Silicon Valley conference has always been the premier event in the US for embedded software and hardware suppliers and the customers they serve. Conference organizers reported at the show that registration and attendance was up year over year. VDC observed during the course of the conference that there appeared to be more exhibitors than the prior year that the show floor area had expanded.... Read more →

ESC San Jose is Next Week - Still Time to Register and Meet with VDC

The Embedded Systems Conference will be held next week (May 2nd-5th) at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose. VDC will be attending the conference once again this year and will be presenting our 7th annual Embeddy Awards for Best in Show live at the conference. The winners will be announced live ahead of Thursday's morning keynote session. So how can your company win the Embeddy award? To be considered, you must schedule a meeting with VDC to discuss the announcement that you are making at the show. You can arrange a meeting time with VDC by doing one of... Read more →

Linux Panel Discussion: Challenges & Solutions for Today’s New Technology Advances

Linux has swept across mobile, appliance, enterprise, and desktop platforms with great success. Everyone understands the historical “buy versus build” trade-offs, but as new disruptive technologies like multicore, virtualization, and System On Chip proliferate, the great unknowns lie with how incorporating these technologies affects Linux development costs and schedules. Join VDC's Steve Balacco and Glenn Seiler from Wind River as they discuss the tough issues of incorporating new technologies for Linux and how they impact the decision to partner for a Linux solution versus maintaining a Linux solution in-house. When? April 7th, 2:00pm ET Where to Register? http://bit.ly/h8dOAh We are... Read more →