emPower OS - The High-Performance Software Platform
emPower OS is a complete operating system for embedded systems and IoT device development.
Overview
SEGGER's emPower OS is a complete operating system that provides the ideal environment for any developer creating an embedded system or IoT device. It can be adapted to run in resource-constrained, single-chip microcontroller systems without external memory or scaled up for highest performance without unnecessary overhead on application processors (MPU). This all-in-one solution supports any vendor, any chip and any cloud provider making it easy, cost-effective and risk-free to change suppliers and individual hardware platforms.
Meeting all the requirements of a cutting-edge, high-performance operating system, the emPower OS software package includes:
- Real-time operating system (RTOS)
- Standard software libraries & middleware
- Security algorithms and protocols
- Connectivity libraries (USB, Ethernet, WiFi, Modbus)
- User interface & graphic libraries
- File system & compression algorithms
All software components work seamlessly together and are continuously tested on a variety of microcontrollers/microprocessors from different vendors. They are written in plain C and can be compiled by any standard ANSI/ISO C compiler.
Getting started with emPower OS is easy, and that’s only the beginning. It also significantly reduces the time required to deliver a product by using robust, well-tested components that simply work. The software components also serve as the solid foundation used in SEGGER hardware products, such as the J-Link debug probe, the J-Trace streaming probe and the Flasher production programmer families.
Key Features
- Set up with proven components
- Makes it easy to port the software between different hardware platforms
- Independence from single providers & manufacturers
- One-stop solution developed & supported by SEGGER
- Start application development immediately
- Runs out-of-the-box on hundreds of popular hardware platforms
- Royalty-free under SEGGER commercial licensing
All-In-One Solution
emPower OS is an All-In-One Solution: All software components come from the same vendor with strictly-defined API interaction between its different modules. Each module has an RTOS-interface layer which provides the abstraction layer between RTOS and other standard libraries for communication. Supporting a multitude of devices, it can be ported easily from one hardware to another.
Infrastructure Independent
Most current embedded systems are interconnected. Whether it is called cloud or IoT or Edge, all these terms require an infrastructure to communicate over. emPower OS offers the tools to connect with any such infrastructure. It is completely independent of the infrastructure to be used making it easier to switch for any reason.
High Scalability
emPower OS is a highly scalable solution. It runs on devices of all sizes; from tiny, ultra low-power devices to high-performance machines. This means it suits the purposes of many types of enterprise and business applications. Libraries that are not required are not linked to the firmware, leaving more room and power for the actual application.
SEGGER Friendly Licensing
Under SEGGER commercial licensing, emPower OS is royalty-free. This means each license bought is a one-time payment, making the software a part of equipment expenses. These costs are static.
emPower Evaluation Boards
The emPower evaluation board offers the ideal platform to run the initial emPower OS project on a proven hardware setup. It includes connectors for USB Host and Device, Ethernet and a screen. It has three expansion interfaces that may be equipped with RS232, WiFi and other modules.
Risk Management by Reducing Dependencies
Discontinuations, export restrictions, chip shortages and infrastructure outages - these pose serious risks to production processes. Dealing with these issues can also add to significant costs, especially when relying on third-party software, one specific manufacturer or cloud provider.
As an All-In-One solution, emPower OS ensures these risks and associated costs are kept to a minimum thanks to its robust and well-tested software components which fit together perfectly. By providing an efficient environment for developers to work with, a reduced timescale also brings costs down. This independence from providers, manufacturers and vendors therefore keeps all risks and costs to the absolute minimum.
Four different scenarios for managing chip supply shortages with lengthy lead times are detailed on the right. There are two possible solutions: Wait or redesign. In case of a redesign, basically there are three different scenarios: 1) The customer uses something other than emPower OS, and redesigns and switches to a software platform other than emPower OS. 2) The customer switches to the emPower OS software. 3) The customer already uses emPower OS.
Waiting might cause production to be halted. To shorten the period until production can be picked up again, a hardware redesign might be an option. Such redesign might prove costly in terms of time, even a redesign might not be ready until production halts. emPower OS can therefore provide a significantly shorter development cycle thanks to its extensive hardware support. If emPower OS already is used, a production stop can even be avoided as the redesign on the software side can be reduced to merely switching a few drivers, adapting the remaining direct hardware accesses and testing functionality.
Understanding risk is the first step to avoiding it. The following post details how underestimated risks can threaten embedded manufacturers production processes.
