4th : Embedded Systems - Day 7

In my earliest blog on Embedded Systems (ES), I was looking for a proper definition of ES.
Yesterday, I asked how a coffee dispenser works.

Let us focus on how a coffee/Tea dispenser works.

If I am a dispenser,
1. I would first take a coin.
2. Then accept the choice : coffee or tea.
3. If it is coffee, I must fill the cup with coffee.
4. Else If it is tea , I must fill the cup with tea.
5. Finally, I must wait for the next coin.

Is there ANYTHING ELSE that I am missing ?

Some degree of intelligence is built into the system, obviously.
To the user, it should look like a coffee machine, but internally,

it accepts a coin, as input, follows a program (if coin is true and if coffee button is pressed then give coffee else if tea button is pressed then give tea...also, stop coffe/tea after a certain output is dispensed !)

So, we need an electro-mechanical system controlled by a computing system !
Where is the computer ?

It is hidden.

So, I agree with the following a definition which I came across somewhere.

Any computer that pretends NOT to be a computer is an Embedded System.

I write this because I liked it very much.

Do you have any such interesting definition ?

I had designed a single board microcontroller using 8051 long time ago.
I dusted it out and kept it ready for my future practise.

My next phase of activity would be to look into all the events that are occuring in the system, provide the sub-systems that fulfill all the requirements (using electronic/mechanical devices) and then integrate these subsystems in a way that ensures smooth and trouble free operation in all circumstances.

That would surely be an exciting thing to look forward to.

More on this tomorrow.
HaPpy Weekend.....