<b>Welcome to Embedded Science</b> [Text only version]<p>
The Delta T Probe has been developed by Patrick Bossert of the WSP Group Plc and is designed to
test embedded systems for Y2K compliance, ensuring that firms can enter the new millenium
confident that their systems will survive the Y2K bug.
<p>
<h3>What are embedded systems</h3>
An embedded system is a microprocessor-based control system which processes a fixed set of
programmed instructions in order to control the operation of electromechanical equipment or
machinery belonging to a larger system of which it forms part.
<br>
Embedded systems appear in all manner of buildings and manufacturing infrastructure, and are
often difficult to find as they are hidden away in obscure places or buried inside machinery
control cabinets. They usually perform time-critical process control tasks, and are widely
found in manufacturing and process control plant, communications hardware, banking and finance
terminal hardware, medical equipment, transport management systems, building systems and
domestic equipment.
<br>
The heavy time-dependency of the control algorithms implemented in some of these systems makes
them particularly vulnerable to Year 2000 problems.
<p>
<h3>What is the embedded systems Y2K problem?</h3>
Embedded Control Systems that perform time-related control functions usually rely on
information provided by a Real Time Clock (RTC) chip. This is the hardware component that keeps
the time and date updated, even when a system is powered off. These chips evolved through the
need for power-saving measures in circuitry, continuity of timekeeping during power failure,
and the inability of many older microprocessors to process multiple tasks in a time critical
manner.
<p>
The problem is that RTC chips usually hold the year date as a two-digit code, which becomes '00'
in the year 2000. This is miss-interpreted by some software calculations as year 1900 instead
of 2000, with sometimes catastrophic consequences.
<br>
The desktop PC Y2K problem shares the same origin, but that is where the similarity ends - the
difference with Embedded Systems is that they are programmed to carry out a single task, and the
program is fixed or embedded into a chip (a ROM or EPROM, shown below) which forms part of the
system's controlling electronics.
<p>
Unlike desktop PCs it is not possible to insert a disk or test program into an Embedded System,
as there is no facility to load new programs or access the existing program code. This is what
makes determining Embedded Systems compliance a very difficult and specialised task.
<p>
<h3>Are you confident that the embedded systems in your Business are Y2K compliant?</h3>
if your company has done <i>nothing</i> to check its embedded systems you cannot be confident.
<br>
You must<br>
<ul>
<li>identify your most critical processes</li>
<li>Demonstrate that the embedded systems providing the infrastructure for those processes are
compliant.</li>
<li>To do this, test the most critical systems and obtain vendor statements for the others.
</ul>
<p>
If your company has <i>implemented an embedded systems programme</i> and relied on vendor
statements you must:<br>
<ul>
<li>Test the most critical systems, More and more more vendor statements have been shown to be
incorrect, or unintentionally inaccurate.</li>
<li>To do this, test the most critical systems and re-check test data provided in vendor
statements for the others.</li>
</ul>
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