The Complexity Challenge in Embedded System Design

Abstract

The ever-increasing functionality and the nonfunctional constraints that must be satisfied by embedded systems lead to an enormous growth in the complexity at the system level In this paper we investigate the notion of cognitive complexity and argue that it is not the embedded system, but the models of the embedded system that must be simple and understandable. The introduction of appropriate levels of abstraction in modeling and the associated concept formation help to reduce the emerging complexity by focusing on the relevant properties and omitting irrelevant detail, thus leading to a simpler representation of the evolving artifact. In the second part of the paper we present examples of basic-level concepts that we find essential in the design of distributed embedded systems and summarize the insights by presenting a set of concise design patterns that support the component-based design of embedded systems.