Firmware / Embedded Engineering

The Embedded Systems Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)—also referred to as the Embedded Software Development Process—is a structured framework comprising a series of steps and activities used to design, develop, test, deploy and maintain software embedded within a hardware system.

This lifecycle represents a holistic and disciplined approach to managing embedded product development from initial concept through to full-scale production. It integrates both engineering principles and project management best practices to ensure reliability, performance and maintainability.

The SDLC engineering roadmap equips our Developers and System Designers with the tools, methodologies, and resources needed to efficiently create, upgrade and support high-quality embedded solutions tailored to client requirements.

The - Embedded - Firmware Development Process includes a large number of parameters that are not only limited to the intended functionality itself, but also the external parameters in which the system must operate. This means that the system, which must generate conclusion and action, must be all-encompassing. The following explanation describes the process within which a system is developed.

█  Define System Specifications

The system specification defines the hardware and software requirements of the product. This step outlines system features, functionality, performance requirements and other specifications required for developing an effective design of the system.

█  Design Hardware Platform

The hardware platform provides hardware components for developing embedded systems such as microcontrollers, memory, interfaces, and other components. It also provides platform designs such as Schematics, PCB layouts and Bill-of-Materials so we can design a custom-made system based on its specific needs.

█  Develop Software Platform

The included software system is based on operating systems (such as Linux) and middleware, used to develop embedded system applications: i.e. firmware or software applications by using for instance CodeFusion Studio™. During the development we can use commercially available frameworks such as .NET, Android or iOS to develop applications specifically tailored for the intended embedded devices.

█  Design Product

The last step in the Embedded System Development Process involves designing the product's hardware, using a well-defined hardware development document where all aesthetic & mechanical / functional specifications are defined: the Functional Specifications Document (FSD), the Chip Design Documents (CDD), Environmental Specification Document (ESD), Bill-of-Materials (BOM) and so on.

A detailed Technical Design Requirement Specification (TDRS) document should be created as part of the product development process. This document serves as a blueprint for the entire product lifecycle and ensures alignment between engineering, manufacturing and business goals.

The specification should include, but not be limited to, the following key elements:

● Purpose of the Product.

● System Block Diagram.

● Main Features and Functions.

● Environmental Conditions.

● Regulatory and Compliance Requirements.

● Mechanical and Industrial Design Constraints.

● Manufacturing and Testing Requirements.

● Interfaces and Connectivity.

● Power Supply Requirements.

● Firmware and Software Requirements.

A well-structured specification document ensures clarity, reduces miscommunication across teams, and sets a solid foundation for development, validation and manufacturing.

Once the Technical Design Requirement Specification (TDRS) is complete, our software development engineers move on to the detailed design phase. At this stage, each block in the system is analyzed to select appropriate components and finalize the application circuits.

Our software developers and engineers make key decisions such as determining the type of power supply to use—whether it should be a linear regulator, a DC-DC switching converter, or another solution. Based on these decisions, the specific power management ICs (PMICs) are selected and their application circuits are carefully designed & validated. This process is repeated for every functional block in the system to ensure optimal performance, reliability and efficiency.

Here is a systematic breakdown of this process:

█   1. Requirements & System Architecture

● Our Embedded Engineers work with the System Architects and Hardware Engineers to define software requirements based on the product's intended functionality.

● They help shape the system architecture by providing input on microcontroller / microprocessor selection, memory requirements, interface compatibility and real-time constraints.

█   2. Hardware Design Phase

● Our Embedded Engineers collaborate closely with the Hardware Design Team.

● They review schematics, help select components (e.g., MCUs, sensors, communication modules) and ensure that the hardware supports the intended software features.

● They will also write initial board bring-up code or bootloader frameworks.

█   3. Software Design & Development

● At this stage in the process our Embedded Engineers operate fully on the software development.

● This includes writing low-level drivers, middleware, application logic, communication stacks, real-time operating system (RTOS) integration and power management features.

● Emdedded Engineers involvement in iterative development and testing on evaluation boards.

█   4. Integration & Testing

● The Embedded Engineers test software on actual hardware (prototypes).

● The engineers perform unit testing, integration testing and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing.

● Also the debugging of hardware-software interaction issues are analyzed and solved.

█   5. Validation, Certification & Production Support

● The Embedded Engineers help with the System Engineers to validate software against the original TDRS, ensure compliance with standards (e.g., MISRA, IEC 61508) and prepare production-ready firmware.

● Post-production, our Embedded Engineers support the System Design Engineers with firmware updates, bug fixes and feature enhancements (e.g., OTA updates).

Sometimes, engineers find that a product performs well in the lab but encounters issues once deployed in real-world conditions. That’s because field conditions are often significantly different and more unpredictable than controlled lab environments. Engineers must anticipate the environmental and operational conditions the product will face in the field and attempt to replicate these during testing to validate performance before deployment.

A common challenge involves power supply connections made in the field. To prevent damage, it’s crucial to include over-voltage and reverse-polarity protection at the power input. For instance, if a layperson accidentally connects a higher-voltage power source or reverses the polarity, the product could be irreparably damaged. To mitigate this, many development teams supply a dedicated power adapter with the product, using a keyed or one-way connector to eliminate the risk of incorrect connections. However, this approach may not be feasible for all products.

Wireless connectivity is another field-specific challenge. If a product relies on LTE+/5G, its signal strength and connection reliability will depend on the coverage in a given area. These conditions are often difficult to reproduce in the lab, making field testing essential for understanding connectivity performance in real-world scenarios.

Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, vibration, and pressure can also influence how a product behaves in the field. Testing under these varying conditions helps ensure the product meets reliability and durability expectations. Ultimately, only through comprehensive field testing can engineers truly understand how a product performs in its intended environment.

Once field trials have been conducted over several weeks or months, all insights and feedback gathered must be carefully incorporated into the product design. If any issues are identified during these trials, it's essential not only to address them in the design but also to update the test procedures used during design validation and production testing.

By refining these procedures, you ensure that similar issues are detected and resolved early in future production cycles. This continuous feedback loop helps improve both product quality and reliability, ultimately leading to a more robust and field-ready product coming off the production line.

Before launching the product, several critical elements beyond the product itself must be prepared to ensure, [1] a smooth market entry and, [2] a smooth user experience. These include:

█  Product Certification

The product must comply with relevant certification standards based on its features and the regions where it will be sold. This could include safety, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), wireless communication and environmental standards, among others. Each target market (e.g., CE for Europe, FCC for the US, BIS for India etc.) may have different requirements.

█  Product Documentation

Comprehensive and accessible documentation is essential. This should include:

● Detailed product page on the company website.

● Quick introduction or unboxing video.

● Technical datasheet outlining specifications.

● A clear and concise User Manual.

● Setup guides and troubleshooting tips.

● A dedicated support channel or helpdesk for customer assistance.