Embedded Control in the Autonomous Systems

Autonomous and embedded systems are the infrastructural fabric of modern technological society and are present as an almost imperceptible environment to each of us. Very soon after the advent of the electronic computer in the middle of the last century, the possibilities of digital control were realized as a substitute for human control over various processes. Accordingly, their use also began – first of all in an industrial environment and in military technologies – a still relatively limited application due to the then high price of the devices themselves, and also due to the need for complex adaptation of the technological environment and the personnel involved.

The gradual mass penetration develops the technologies of the embedded systems in the direction of compactness and lower price. In turn, advanced technologies stimulate their even greater penetration in industrial production, in communications and transport, and in everyday life. Today, autonomous intelligence, or at least automatism in making trivial everyday decisions, can be found all around us.

More than 95% of digital processors are installed not in general-purpose systems – personal computers and devices and servers, but in specialized control devices that we call embedded systems. Their functionality varies widely – from very primitive control over low-complexity repeatable procedures to imitation of human intelligence and physical presence. The realization of walking and talking human-like automata (humanoid robots) is rather a homage to the former fiction or Kafka-style futurism, but besides these expensive toys everywhere we can also see the evidence of the irreplaceable practicality of autonomous embedded systems: instead of people in developed economies, millions of industrial robots (rather manipulators) work, and each of us is surrounded by several such companions that fill our consciousness with sounds, images and communications.