Embedded product development requires three major steps: hardware platform selection, operating system selection, and user interface (UI) development. All three of these steps are closely related to each other and have a significant impact on time to market, project costs and final product quality. It is very important to choose the right hardware platform that also supports a great operating system and the best user interface development tools.
1. Choosing your hardware platform
Choosing the right hardware platform is the first step in the embedded solution development process and can have a significant impact on the final product cost per unit and development time. Here are some of the important questions that need to be answered:
- Is there a stable supply/warranty/long-term support/availability line? If the chosen hardware platform is not available for more than six months, all development time will be wasted and result in significant project delays and cost increases.
- Is this platform a quality product? Many developments are not made in terms of best practices, which can cause a lot of headaches for future failures. As a result, replacing one brand with another will lead to an increase in cost.
- Is the product flexible in terms of updates, which will reduce development time and cost for future revisions?
Various embedded systems options are available as single board computers (single Board Computers - SBC), modular systems (SOM) and custom designs.
Single board computers are complete designs requiring only a screen and power. The SBC may already be a certified device, which means many users won't need to worry about certification issues. The cost of some single board computers can also be reduced by eliminating unnecessary components.
Nitrogen6_MAX: High-end Embedded single board computer based on the NXP/Freescale i.MX6 Quad Processor. Kit includes 5V Power Supply, 4GB microSD card with Linux OS, and Serial Console Cable.
Modular systems, on the other hand, provide more flexibility for those who have specific requirements for the rest of the circuitry they would like to include on the carrier board. SOM in the standard delivery contains the CPU, RAM and flash memory, as well as power. The rest is being developed for installation on a carrier board.
And the last option is to hire a specialist who will develop a non-standard version of the device according to specific project specifications. In production, this option will have the lowest cost, since it was developed in accordance with the minimum necessary requirements of the project.
2. Choosing a trusted operating system
Having a stable, high-quality operating system can reduce development time, allowing you to get to market faster. A bad operating system can waste software resources due to time spent fixing bugs instead of improving functionality, and also creates potential problems in the future. The choice should fall on leading operating systems such as Android 5.0, Yocto, Ubuntu, QNX, CE7/CE2013, or Buildroot, which reduce the risk of such problems.
3. Building the user interface
The third and final piece of the puzzle is the user interface. One of the most complex and time-consuming elements of embedded systems is the development of the user interface. When using a well-known and proven tool for user interface development, embedded systems development is completed faster, which speeds up time to market and reduces the final cost of the product.
Hardware platforms such as Boundary Devices support Qt for Device Creation, for which you can download the IDE and start developing right away.
Summing up
When you embark on a new embedded systems project, take care to select the right hardware platform and operating system, and make sure your partners have the appropriate experience and ability for the project. Regarding Qt, you can get a head start on the hardware platforms supported by Qt. For example, Qt's technology partner, Boundary Devices, can provide the required hardware.
Источник Qt Blog
