Virtualizing Embedded Firmware to Boost Innovation Cycles

Software for embedded systems has strict requirements on stability; therefore, software updates are commonly avoided. Combined with common limitations and challenges of embedded system development, this leads to slow innovation cycles. This stands in contrast to desktop and cloud systems with rapid innovation cycles, supported by powerful toolchains and established mechanisms for seamless deployment. We present a four-step approach for refactoring the architecture of an embedded firmware such that the firmware can be built, run, and tested on powerful hardware, including cloud environments. In a case involving a commercial product, we show the effectiveness of the approach. The new architecture enables more efficient product development, more flexibility in the deployment, and hence shortened innovation cycles.