Embedded Systems & Firmware Development
Reliable, efficient embedded systems powering smart devices and industrial equipment with optimized firmware for real-time performance
Engineering Embedded Solutions
Embedded systems form the foundation of modern connected devices, industrial controllers, and smart equipment. Our firmware development service creates software that runs directly on hardware, managing sensors, actuators, and communication interfaces while operating within strict resource constraints.
We develop firmware for microcontrollers ranging from resource-limited 8-bit processors to powerful ARM Cortex systems, selecting appropriate architectures based on processing requirements, power budgets, and connectivity needs. Each implementation balances functionality against memory footprint and energy consumption to maximize battery life and operational efficiency.
Our embedded Linux systems provide full operating system capabilities for applications requiring file systems, networking stacks, and process management. We configure kernel modules, optimize boot times, and implement update mechanisms while maintaining system stability for long-term unattended operation.
Real-time operating systems enable deterministic behavior for applications where timing requirements are critical. We implement task scheduling, interrupt handling, and inter-process communication mechanisms that ensure responsive operation under varying load conditions.
Communication protocol implementations connect embedded devices to networks and cloud platforms. We develop drivers for various connectivity standards including MQTT for lightweight messaging, CoAP for constrained devices, Bluetooth Low Energy for local wireless communication, and LoRaWAN for long-range low-power transmission.
Capabilities and Performance Improvements
Extended Battery Operation
Power optimization techniques extend device operational lifetime significantly. A wireless sensor deployment in agricultural monitoring achieved 18-month battery life through sleep mode implementation, wake-on-interrupt mechanisms, and efficient data transmission scheduling.
Responsive Control Systems
Real-time firmware enables immediate response to input conditions. Motor control applications achieve sub-millisecond response times, while safety systems detect and react to hazardous conditions within strict timing requirements for industrial machinery operation.
Reliable Connectivity
Robust protocol implementations maintain communication under challenging conditions. Devices deployed in remote locations handle intermittent connectivity through message queuing, automatic reconnection, and offline operation capabilities that synchronize data when networks become available.
Efficient Resource Usage
Optimized firmware fits complex functionality into limited memory and storage. Code profiling and optimization techniques reduce flash memory usage by 40% in typical implementations, allowing cost-effective hardware selection while maintaining feature completeness.
Implementation Case Study
An industrial automation client in Osaka required custom firmware for their production line controllers in August 2025. We developed real-time control software managing 32 input sensors and 16 actuators with microsecond timing precision. The system processes over 12,000 control cycles per second while maintaining stable operation across varying environmental conditions. Field deployment across 45 production cells showed consistent performance with zero unplanned downtime during the initial three-month operational period.
Development Technologies and Methods
Firmware Architecture
We structure firmware using modular architectures that separate hardware abstraction layers from application logic. This separation enables code reuse across different hardware platforms and simplifies maintenance as requirements evolve. State machines manage complex operational sequences, while event-driven designs respond efficiently to external inputs and internal conditions.
Languages: C for embedded systems, C++ for complex applications, Assembly for performance-critical sections, Rust for safety-critical systems
Protocol Implementation
Communication stacks are implemented with error handling and retry mechanisms to ensure reliable data transmission. MQTT clients connect to brokers with automatic reconnection and quality-of-service guarantees. Bluetooth Low Energy implementations support both peripheral and central roles with custom GATT services. LoRaWAN drivers handle adaptive data rate and duty cycle management for regulatory compliance.
Protocols: MQTT, CoAP, BLE 5.0, LoRaWAN, Zigbee, Thread, Modbus RTU, CAN bus, SPI, I2C, UART
Sensor Integration and Processing
Sensor drivers interface with temperature, pressure, motion, light, and environmental sensors through appropriate communication buses. Signal processing algorithms filter noise, calibrate readings, and fuse data from multiple sources. We implement moving average filters, Kalman filters, and custom algorithms tailored to specific sensor characteristics and application requirements.
Capabilities: Digital signal processing, sensor fusion, calibration routines, anomaly detection, threshold monitoring
Power Management
Low-power firmware design leverages processor sleep modes, dynamic voltage scaling, and peripheral power gating to minimize energy consumption. Wake-on-interrupt mechanisms allow devices to sleep deeply between events while responding quickly when needed. Power budgeting calculations ensure operation within available energy constraints for battery-powered deployments.
Techniques: Sleep modes, dynamic frequency scaling, peripheral gating, wake-on-interrupt, watchdog timers, brown-out detection
Real-Time Operating Systems
RTOS implementations provide task scheduling, synchronization primitives, and memory management for multi-threaded embedded applications. We configure priority-based scheduling to ensure time-critical tasks meet their deadlines while lower-priority operations execute during available processor time. Mutex and semaphore mechanisms coordinate access to shared resources.
RTOS platforms: FreeRTOS, Zephyr, ThreadX, embedded Linux with real-time patches, bare-metal implementations
Quality Assurance and Testing Standards
Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing
Automated test frameworks verify firmware behavior on actual hardware, executing thousands of test cases that exercise various operational scenarios. Test fixtures simulate sensor inputs and monitor outputs to validate correct responses under normal and edge conditions.
Static Analysis
Code analysis tools identify potential issues including memory leaks, buffer overflows, uninitialized variables, and race conditions before hardware deployment. Compliance checking verifies adherence to coding standards such as MISRA C for safety-critical applications.
Environmental Testing
Firmware undergoes validation across operational temperature ranges, voltage variations, and electromagnetic interference conditions. Testing verifies stable operation from cold start through extended high-temperature exposure and graceful handling of power supply fluctuations.
Timing Verification
Real-time systems require verification that time-critical operations complete within specified deadlines. Oscilloscope measurements and logic analyzer traces confirm interrupt latencies, task execution times, and end-to-end response characteristics meet design requirements.
Long-Duration Testing
Extended operation testing validates firmware stability over weeks of continuous operation, identifying memory leaks, resource exhaustion, and timing drift issues that appear only after prolonged runtime. Devices cycle through various operational modes to exercise all code paths.
Code Review Process
All firmware undergoes peer review where experienced engineers examine code for correctness, efficiency, and maintainability. Reviews verify proper error handling, resource management, and documentation quality before integration into production builds.
Applications and Deployment Scenarios
Industrial equipment controllers manage production machinery, conveyor systems, and automated assembly lines through firmware that coordinates multiple actuators and sensors. Safety interlocks prevent hazardous conditions while maintaining production efficiency through optimized sequencing.
Smart building devices control lighting, HVAC systems, and access points through networked embedded controllers. Firmware implements local control logic with cloud connectivity for centralized management while maintaining autonomous operation during network outages.
Environmental monitoring stations measure air quality, weather conditions, and pollution levels using embedded systems deployed in remote locations. Low-power firmware enables solar-powered operation while cellular connectivity transmits readings to central databases.
Medical device firmware monitors vital signs, controls infusion pumps, and operates diagnostic equipment under strict regulatory requirements. Real-time processing ensures immediate response to critical conditions while data logging supports clinical analysis.
Vehicle telematics systems track location, monitor driving behavior, and diagnose vehicle health through embedded controllers connected to automotive networks. Firmware interfaces with CAN bus protocols to access vehicle systems and transmit data through cellular networks.
Agricultural sensors monitor soil moisture, temperature, and nutrient levels to optimize irrigation and fertilization. Battery-powered devices operate for months on single charges through aggressive power management while LoRaWAN connectivity enables farm-wide deployments.
Development Process and Documentation
Firmware development follows structured processes beginning with requirements analysis and hardware interface definition. We create detailed specifications documenting memory layouts, peripheral configurations, and timing requirements before implementation begins.
Source code repositories maintain complete version history with detailed commit messages explaining changes. Branching strategies separate stable releases from active development while tags mark production firmware versions deployed to devices.
Technical documentation includes architecture overviews, module descriptions, API references, and build instructions. Comments within source code explain complex algorithms and hardware-specific implementations to support long-term maintenance.
Over-the-air update mechanisms enable remote firmware upgrades with fallback capabilities that revert to previous versions if updates fail validation. Secure boot loaders verify firmware signatures before execution to prevent unauthorized code installation.
Typical flash memory footprint for full-featured applications
Deep sleep power consumption in battery-optimized designs
Interrupt response time for time-critical operations
Begin Your Embedded Systems Project
Discuss your hardware platform and functionality requirements with our embedded systems engineers to explore firmware development approaches for your application.
Investment starting from ¥2,680,000
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