Memory management is important in all digital electronic devices, including devices designed for use on the Internet of Things (IoT). It supports efficient resource allocation and memory utilization and prevents memory fragmentation, improving efficiency. It also supports memory protection and device security. This FAQ briefly reviews the common weakness enumeration (CWE) scheme for identifying software […]
Securing devices for the IoT – firmware, software, and OTA
Over-the-air (OTA) updating of firmware and software on Internet of Things (IoT) devices is a requirement, not an option. The large number of IoT devices makes manual updates impractical and even dangerous. This FAQ reviews two key tools for managing and implementing OTA for IoT devices: open-source standards for managing resource-constrained devices and industry standards […]
Securing devices for the IoT — minimize the attack surface
An attack surface is the sum of all the attack vectors or ways an attacker can gain malicious access to a network or system. The growth in remote work and the adoption of cloud services have increased the number of attack vectors and the attack surface size for most organizations and applications. This FAQ reviews […]
What are the four types of machine learning, and what are they used for?
Machine learning (ML) is a subset of artificial intelligence (AI). It’s used to enable machines to independently improve their performance using data and experience to modify future actions. ML applications range from autonomous vehicles to business processes. Various approaches to ML use different learning styles, require different levels of data input, and are optimized for […]
What are the top five neural network architectures?
There are many artificial neural network (ANN) architectures, each suited for specific tasks. This FAQ begins with a review of the components of the neurons that make up ANNs, looks at the basic elements of ANNs, and then presents the top architectures. There are several forms of neurons with slightly different mathematical structures. Most neurons […]
What is Rust used for in an embedded system?
Rust is an emerging systems programming language that’s mostly used for memory management, safety, and performance. It’s a statically typed programming language like Java, C, and C++, where variable types are known at compile time, and it’s designed for performance and safety, especially safe concurrency and memory management. Rust’s low-level control and memory safety make […]
What’s the difference between IEC 61508 and 61511 and ISO 26262 and 13849 functional safety standards?
There are numerous functional safety standards. Most are based on IEC 61508, the foundational safety integrity level (SIL) standard. IEC 61511 is the SIL standard for the process industry. ISO 26262 is applicable to safety in automotive systems. ISO 13849 is a safety standard that applies to parts of machinery control systems that provide safety […]
What is the MIPI I3C HCI good for?
The mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) improved inter-integrated circuit (I3C) host controller interface (HCI) provides a scalable, low-power, medium-speed, two-wire I3C utility and control bus interface for connecting peripheral devices to application processors in smartphones, computers, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, automotive systems, and similar applications. MIPI I3C HCI supports faster design times for applications […]
How does MISRA fit into automotive and industrial systems?
MISRA is a set of C and C++ coding standards developed by the Motor Industry Software Reliability Association (MISRA). Today it’s being maintained and expanded by the MISRA Consortium. MISRA has grown into a standard for embedded industries as well as automotive systems. For example, ISO 26262 Functional Safety – Road Vehicles cites MISRA C […]
Post-quantum crypto standardization — background
At some point in the not-too-distant future, it’s expected that quantum computing will pose a security risk to all currently used encryption techniques. Most current encryption methods are based on the challenges associated with factoring large numbers into their prime factors. They provide good levels of security when classical computers are being used. Still, quantum […]
