2. Introduction to Embedded Computing Systems

This chapter begins with a brief overview of embedded computing systems in Sect. 2.1, taking into account the introduction to systems in Chap. 1. Thereafter, Sect. 2.2 introduces the hardware architecture of embedded computing systems. Section 2.3 is an introduction to the methodology for determining the design metrics of embedded computing systems, a method which defines the preciseness of a design with regard to the requirements specifications. Section 2.4 introduces the concept of embedded control with regard to the respective mathematical notation formulations of the different control laws. Section 2.5 introduces the principal concept of hardware-software codesign. Since the expected growth rate of design productivity in the traditional way is far below that of system complexity, hardware-software codesign has been developed as a new design methodology during the past decade. Section 2.6 presents a case study of the concept of system stability analysis. Section 2.7 contains comprehensive questions from the system theory domain, followed by references and suggestions for further reading.