Silicon security has traditionally focused on cryptography, including hardening crypto-accelerators and protecting key storage. In System-on-Chip (SoC) design, this approach is insufficient. An SoC integrates multiple components, such as cores, memory, and third-party IP blocks, onto a single die. This integration introduces hardware-level vulnerabilities that do not target the cryptographic algorithms themselves. Instead, these threats […]
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How is a transformer used in neural networks?
Transformers are a neural network (NN) architecture, or model, that excels at processing sequential data by weighing the importance of different parts of the input sequence. This allows them to capture long-range dependencies and context more effectively than previous architectures, leading to superior performance in natural language processing (NLP) tasks like translation and in computer […]
A practical guide to microcontroller structure and performance factors
Microcontroller units (MCUs) are single-chip computers optimized for performing embedded computing tasks like controlling a coffee machine or a medical device, an industrial robot, or an electric vehicle battery charger. They don’t require a complex operating system (OS) like those found on personal computers and servers. The central processing unit (CPU) is a key element […]
Design World presents the 2025 LEAP Awards winners: Embedded computing
Now in its eighth year, Design World’s LEAP Awards showcase the best engineering innovations across several design categories. This undertaking wouldn’t be possible without the commitment and support of the engineering community. The editorial team assembles OEM design engineers and academics each year to create an independent judging panel. Below is their selection for this […]
Navigating the EU Cyber Resilience Act: a manufacturer’s perspective
As connected devices proliferate across consumer, industrial, and automotive sectors, cybersecurity is becoming as fundamental to design as power efficiency or reliability. The European Union’s Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) introduces sweeping new cybersecurity requirements for connected products, creating both challenges and opportunities for electronics manufacturers and design engineers. This legislation will reshape how embedded systems and IoT […]
The intelligent Edge: powering next-gen Edge AI applications
Edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology is proving transformational for industrial enterprises as they shift focus toward the human- and planet-centric ideals of Industry 5.0. These solutions merge the power of edge computing with AI advancements to enhance efficiency, agility, and security through automation. They also reduce industrial reliance on centralized servers, helping to control both […]
Reimagining EV design with AI-enhanced EDA tools
Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven chatbots, tools, and techniques are being deployed across various stages of electric vehicle (EV) design and simulation to support validation and manufacturing. AI can be used as an assistant to increase the effectiveness of conventional EDA tools. When combined with data-driven methods, it can also be used to create reduced-order models (ROMs) […]
Closing the embedded skills gap: a conversation with embedded software expert Jacob Beningo
As design teams shrink and hardware engineers increasingly face challenges with embedded software, the industry confronts a widening skills gap, resistance to modernization, and pressure to deliver faster. But the solutions to these challenges exist. Jacob Beningo, founder of the Embedded Software Academy, has worked on over 100 projects across 20 countries. He spoke with […]
Embedded processors explained
An embedded processor is a microprocessor designed to perform a dedicated function within a larger mechanical or electrical system. Unlike the general-purpose processors found in personal computers or servers, embedded processors are optimized for specific tasks and are “embedded” into devices that are not primarily computers. Where are embedded processors used? The applications for embedded […]
Are there any benefits from generative AI hallucinations?
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) hallucinations, where an AI delivers incorrect or fabricated information, can offer benefits, especially in creative and exploratory domains like drug discovery. There are four common types of AI hallucinations (Figure 1). Not all types are equally desirable or useful. General contradictions include context conflicts and sentence contradictions. For example, an AI […]
