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What are embedded systems?

Embedded systems contain ‘programmed’ instructions running via processor chips. They exist in all PCs and computers but, more importantly, they perform control, protection and monitoring tasks in factories, utility industries and even in the home.

How are they affected by the Millennium Bug?

In the most alarming situations embedded systems stop working entirely, sometimes shutting down a piece of machinery or making it operate in an unsafe manner. Less obviously, they can generate erroneous information which can mislead other systems or human users.

Where are they to be found?

Embedded systems are used extensively to control and monitor engineering and manufacturing processes. They underpin the whole of the world’s manufacturing and engineering base. For example, the world’s energy supplies (oil, coal, gas, nuclear) depend on embedded systems. Planes fly, and ships sail, based on embedded systems. Pharmaceutical industries use embedded systems to create our drug supply. Our food, drink and clean water come primarily from processes which depend on embedded systems. These systems are also vital in car manufacturing, national and international defence, railway networks, telecommunications, medical equipment, broadcast media and so on. Embedded systems are prime components of global infrastructure. Closer to home, embedded systems are increasingly used in the domestic environment - washing machines, microwave ovens, video recorders, alarms/intruder detection systems and central heating controllers. They also control temperature, lighting, air conditioning and security access in many offices. And they also support point of sale equipment, cash dispensers and traffic management in a typical High Street.

How big is the problem?

During 1995, more than 200 million PCs were shipped worldwide. In the same period, the number of embedded systems shipped exceeded 3 billion. According to research conducted over the past year, around 5% of simple embedded systems were found to fail Millennium Bug tests. For more sophisticated embedded systems, failure rates of between 50% and 80% have been reported (Action 2000 UK Government Taskforce). In our own experience however we have found it closer to 15%-20% in processor intensive industries.

What needs to be done?

Action to fix the Millennium Bug in embedded systems is lagging behind the equivalent programmes for PCs and mainframe computers, perhaps by as much as one year. Some large manufacturing and engineering organisations - and most utilities - have acknowledged the problem and rectification programmes are underway. However, it is clear that most companies, including almost all small and medium-sized enterprises, do not yet fully appreciate the impact the failure of embedded systems may have on their organisations. For production and manufacturing companies, there is a clear danger that production may fail - and the company may be in danger - because of embedded system failures. Even in non-production environments, embedded system failure may render offices unusable or inaccessible.

 

 

Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure Act, 1998