The development of embedded systems under the Internet of Things boom

[Reading: Whether it is a smart sensor, wireless network or computer technology information display and processing include a large number of embedded system technology and applications. The Internet of Things is a new application of embedded systems. Compared with traditional embedded system applications, the level of application of the Internet of Things is richer and more complex. That is, there are real-time applications on the sensor layer, as well as computing and network application layers. Massive data processing and analysis work. 】

Recently participated in the China Internet of Things Conference 2010 organized by the Chinese Institute of Electronics, which is unprecedented. The Internet of Things is in full swing in China. Many electronic design and embedded systems professionals are involved in it. They understand the development trend of the Internet of Things, master the core technology of the Internet of Things, and correctly grasp the opportunities brought by the Internet of Things to electronic design and embedded systems. We should think The problem.

The concept and connotation of the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things is an integrated technology that covers sensor technology, computer technology and network technology. It is a technology oriented to engineering applications. Whether it is sensor technology or network technology that has initiated the dominance in the Internet of Things, now there are different views, such as the Internet of Things is an extension of the Internet, this view represents the point of view of the Internet, sense is the cornerstone of the Internet of Things, which represents the sensor The point of view; I don't think this is very important. Anyway, both are indispensable. What exactly is the conclusion? I think that with the development, there will be conclusions. In general, the idea that the Internet of Things includes three core technologies is widely recognized.

IoT and embedded systems are inseparable

Whether it is a smart sensor, wireless network or computer technology, information display and processing contain a large number of embedded system technologies and applications. At the meeting, we saw the wireless meter reading module of Hangzhou Lierda, which is the application of IoT on the basis of their years of development with MSP430 microcontrollers. The smart home system demonstrated by Beijing Bochuang company is a typical embedded system. It is based on their ARM/Linux development platform accumulated for many years and various home sensing units that make up the IoT system. This view is in the topic forum and Sub-forum speeches have been widely recognized. More scholars have spoken at the conference that the Internet of Things is a cross-cutting science. In the recent development of smart sensor chip technology, the Internet of Things embedded software technology is the two key development directions, which are closely related to the development of embedded systems, application-oriented SoC chips and embedded software are the focus of future embedded system development. In fact, my understanding is that the Internet of Things is a new application of embedded systems. Compared with traditional embedded system applications, the level of application of Internet of Things is more abundant and complex, that is, there are real-time applications represented on the sensing layer. There is also massive data processing and analysis work at the computing and web application layer.

The construction of the Internet of Things discipline has only just begun

Unlike the embedded system, which has no independent subject or specialty, the situation of the Internet of Things is very different. Nearly 700 universities have applied for the Internet of Things and have already approved 20 companies. Then there are professional programs and courses and experimental systems are Active discussion. The problem I see is that four years of university (actually, because the pressure of employment is only more than three years) in the academics, how to grasp the setting of three university science and technology courses in the Internet of Things major is a big problem if it is set There are many courses, students can not really learn; set less, the students did not learn anything, the undergraduate course of 4-8 years of discipline construction and personnel training, the way out of graduation will be the school is facing the test. My point is that instead of cultivating undergraduates, it is better to start IoT professionally in postgraduate studies. It can be more suitable for automation, computer, communication and electronic information, because these professions already have Part of the basic knowledge of IoT disciplines. In addition, many of the IoT laboratory building links remain in the demonstration and demonstration system stage. There are several companies' IoT experimental programs at the meeting site, and most of them are based on the past transformation of embedded system experiments. If the courses are built according to this idea, this It is indeed very worrying.

In general, benefiting from policy orientation, the upsurge of the Internet of Things will certainly drive the development of a number of electronic industries, such as logistics management, medical electronics, power control, and smart homes. No matter what, the embedded system industry should pay attention and grasp This opportunity uses its own knowledge and experience accumulated in embedded systems to explore applications for IoT in a certain area. It is based on mature platforms and products. Through the combination with application sensing units, IoT and awareness are extended. The support capabilities have been developed into IoT application integration systems by expanding the application processing and analysis capabilities of the back office (also known as the IoT Hub Server). (He Xiaoqing, Deputy Secretary General, Embedded Systems Division, China Software Industry Association)