The Embedded Product Development Life

Cycle
INTRODUCTION

Just like the SDLC used in Software Development, there is EDLC used in Embedded

product development.
EMBEDDED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE (EDLC)

๏ EDLC is Embedded Product Development Life Cycle

๏ It is an Analysis – Design – Implementation based problem

solving approach for embedded systems development.

๏ There are three phases to Product development:

EMBEDDED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE (EDLC)
A
Analysis

Design

Implementation
EMBEDDED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE (EDLC)

๏ Analysis involves understanding what product needs to be

developed

๏ Design involves what approach to be used to build the product

๏ Implementation is developing the product by realizing the design.

Need for EDLC
EDLC is essential for understanding the scope and complexity of the work involved in
embedded systems development

๏ It can be used in any developing any embedded product

๏ EDLC defines the interaction and activities among various groups of a product

development phase.

๏ Example:-project management, system design

Objectives of EDLC

๏ The ultimate aim of any embedded product in a commercial production setup is to

produce Marginal benefit.

๏ Marginal is usually expressed in terms of Return On Investment.

๏ The investment for product development includes initial investment, manpower,

infrastructure investment etc.

Objectives of EDLC
EDLC has three primary objectives are:

Ensure that high quality products are delivered to user

๏ Quality in any product development is Return On Investment achieved by the
product
๏ The expenses incurred for developing the product the product are:-
๏ Initial investment
๏ Developer recruiting
๏ Training
๏ Infrastructure requirement related
Objectives of EDLC

Risk minimization defect prevention in product development through project management

๏ In which required for product development ‘loose’ or ‘tight’ project management

๏ ‘project management is essential for ’ predictability co-ordination and risk
minimization
๏ Resource allocation is critical and it is having a direct impact on investment

๏ Example:- Microsoft @ Project Tool

Objectives of EDLC

Maximize the productivity

๏ Productivity is a measure of efficiency as well as Return On Investment
๏ This productivity measurement is based on total manpower efficiency
๏ Productivity in which when product is increased then investment is fall down
๏ Saving manpowe
The primary stages of the
embedded product
development life cycle

• The need phase

• Conceptualization phase
• Analysis phase
• Design phase
• Development and testing phase
• Deployment phase
• Support phase
• Upgrades phase
• Retirement/disposal:

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The need phase

› This step can occur for a new product or re-engineering or updating a current product

The need may come from an individual or from the public or from a company.

‘Need’ should be articulated to initiate the Development Life Cycle; a ‘Concept Proposal’ is prepared which
is reviewed by the senior management for approval.

Need can be visualized in any one of the following three needs:

✤ New or Custom Product Development.
✤ Product Re-engineering.
✤ Product Maintenance.

I
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Conceptualization phase

Engineers might perform a cost-benefit analysis and begin project management, risk
management, and other planning steps.
๏ Defines the scope of concept, performs cost benefit analysis and feasibility study and
prepare project management and risk management plans.
The following activities performed during this phase:

Feasibility Study : Examine the need and suggest possible solutions.

Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA): Revealing and assessing the total development cost and
profit expected from the product.
Product Scope: Deals with the activities involved in the product to be made.
Planning Activities: Requires various plans to be developed first before development
like Resource Planning & Risk management Plans.

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Analysis phase

› During this phase, engineers outline the business needs for the product, along with
requirements for developing the product.
Analysis involves understanding what product needs to be developed
๏ The product is defined in detail with respect to the inputs, processes, outputs, and
interfaces at a functional level.

The various activities performed during this phase..

๏ Analysis and Documentations: This activity consolidates the business needs of
the product under development.
๏ Requirements that need to be addressed..

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๏ Functional Capabilities like performance

๏ Operational and non-operational quality attribute

๏ Product external interface requirements

๏ Data requirements

๏ User manuals

๏ Operational requirements
Defining Test Plan and Procedures: The various type of testing performed in a product development are:

Unit testing – Testing Individual modules

Integration testing – Testing a group of modules for required functionality

System testing- Testing functional aspects or functional requirements of the product after integration
Design phase

› The engineers develop a preliminary design document, which establishes the overall
architecture for the product and design.
Design involves what approach to be used to build the product.
๏ The design phase identifies application environment and creates an overall
architecture for the product.
๏ It starts with the Preliminary Design. It establishes the top level architecture for the
product. On completion it resembles a ‘black box’ that defines only the inputs and
outputs. The final product is called Preliminary Design Document (PDD).
๏ Once the PDD is accepted by the End User the next task is to create the ‘Detailed
Design’.
๏ It encompasses the Operations manual design, Maintenance Manual Design and
Product Training material Design and is together called the ‘Detailed Design
Document’.

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Development and testing phase

› Engineers build the product into actual hardware and software. They test the product to see how
it performs and make changes to ensure it works well.
๏ Implementation is developing the product by realizing the design.
๏ Development phase transforms the design into a realizable product.

The detailed specification generated during the design phase is translated into hardware and
firmware.
The Testing phase can be divided into independent testing of firmware and hardware that is:

✤ Unit testing
✤ Integration testing
✤ System testing
✤ User acceptance testing

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 Deployment phase
› The product manufacturer deploys the embedded product into the
marketplace.Deployment is the process of launching the first fully functional model
of the product in the market.

It is also known as First Customer Shipping (FCS).

Tasks performed during this phase are:
๏ Notification of Product Deployment: Tasks performed here include:
๏ Deployment schedule
๏ Brief description about the product
๏ Targeted end user
๏ Extra features supported
๏ Product support information

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Deployment phase

Execution of training plan

๏ Proper training should be given to the end user top get them acquainted with the
new product.

Product installation

๏ Install the product as per the installation document to ensure that it is fully
functional.

Product post Implementation Review

๏ After the product launch, a post implementation review is done to test the success of
the product.
Support phase

๏The manufacturer and engineers continue to support the product. They monitor that
it's working correctly and quickly make fixes where necessary.
๏Proper training should be given to the end user top get them acquainted with the
new product.
๏The support phase deals with the operational and maintenance of the product in the
production environment.
๏Bugs in the product may be observed and reported.
๏The support phase ensures that the product meets the user needs and it continues
functioning in the production environment.

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Support phase

Activities involved under support are

Setting up of a dedicated support wing: Involves providing 24 x 7 supports for

the product after it is launched.

Identify Bugs and Areas of Improvement: Identify bugs and take measures to
eliminate them.
Upgrades phase

๏The manufacturer and engineering team continue to work on possible new versions
of the product that can perform better.
๏ Deals with the development of upgrades (new versions) for the product which is
already present in the market.
๏ Product upgrade results as an output of major bug fixes.
๏ During the upgrade phase the system is subject to design modification to fix the
major bugs reported.

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Retirement/disposal

๏The manufacturer removes the product from the market as it becomes obsolete. This
phase can happen as technology advances, and users' needs change.
๏The retirement/disposal of the product is a gradual process.
๏This phase is the final phase in a product development life cycle where the product
is declared as discontinued from the market.
๏The disposal of a product is essential due to the following reasons
๏Rapid technology advancement
๏Increased user needs
ELDC APPROACHES

Following are some of the different types of approaches that can be used to model embedded products.

★Waterfall or Linear Model

★Iterative/ Incremental or Fountain Model

★Prototyping Model

★Spiral Model