Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IMLEmbedded hardware and software form the foundation for digital transformation and are crucial to innovative developments in logistics. Embedded systems enable real-time monitoring of transport and warehousing processes, automatically collect sensor data and location information, and thus bring greater efficiency and transparency to logistics processes.
Embedded Systems
Digital transformation with embedded systems
Embedded systems enable the efficient and end-to-end digitalization of logistics processes. An embedded system is a specialized computer system that is embedded as an integral component within a larger technical system. It combines hardware and software components to perform specific functions or tasks, such as control, monitoring, or data processing. Such systems are often integrated into products like vehicles, robots, or industrial machines to implement product-specific functional features.
In logistics, embedded systems provide the foundation for innovative technologies such as digital twins, which enable a virtual representation of physical processes. They are crucial for digital transformation, as they serve as a cross-cutting technology that forms the basis for the automation and optimization of processes. They enable the collection, processing, and transmission of data in real time, which promotes transparency and efficiency in various sectors of industry and logistics. By utilizing embedded systems, companies can bring transparency and efficiency to previously non-digitized processes, improve the quality of their products and services, and leverage modern technologies such as AI.
Our Services
We support you in the development and implementation of embedded systems. Our approach encompasses holistic hardware and software design, the development of application-specific systems, and prototyping to drive digital transformation and innovation.
Our expertise for embedded systems
In our labs, following planning and conceptualization, we design electronics tailored to our partners’ use cases. What sets our work apart: The development and manufacturing of electronic components – for both IoT sensors and robotic systems – can be carried out entirely in-house, right up to the pre-production stage.
Our services encompass both professional and technical expertise in the use of embedded systems:
- Hardware and software design of embedded systems
- Software-based integration of specialized hardware into existing systems
- Development of real-time and low-latency-sensitive software
- Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication
- Development and manufacturing of custom electronic components up to pre-production
Embedded systems in logistics
Embedded systems are a central component for the digitalization and future-readiness of logistics. They serve as a data source, bring transparency to processes, and are suitable for all areas of logistics where there is high potential for digitalization and optimization. For this reason, they offer a wide range of applications:
Transport Monitoring
Embedded systems enable real-time tracking of vehicles and goods to increase transparency and efficiency.
Warehouse management
They automate inventory checks and optimize warehouse processes through precise data collection and control.
Condition monitoring
Sensors in embedded systems monitor environmental conditions such as temperature or humidity to protect sensitive goods.
Process automation
Embedded systems control automated processes, such as conveyor belts or robots in logistics centers.
Route optimization
They analyze traffic data in real time to dynamically adjust delivery routes and save time and costs.
Security management
Embedded systems support access control and the monitoring of logistics facilities to ensure security.
“Embedded systems are the silent engine of progress – invisible, yet indispensable. In logistics, they are primarily driving digitalization and automation.”
Dirk Höning, research associate, conducts research on embedded systems at Fraunhofer IML
Rapid prototyping and embedded systems
Rapid prototyping is a coordinated, iterative development process for the rapid creation of models or prototypes of a product. This method is particularly well-suited for the development of embedded systems, as it ensures that hardware and software are compatible and coordinated with one another, even during fast development cycles. In development, the focus is on the interplay between PCB design and manufacturing, enclosure design and manufacturing, and software development. Rapid prototyping enables the rapid development and testing of embedded systems and a quick proof of concept, allowing potential use cases to be evaluated early on. This enables a quick and flexible response to customer requests.
Research infrastructure
Customized electronics for your application: Following planning and conceptualization, we design electronics tailored to each specific case in our laboratories.
Fraunhofer IML’s in-house manufacturing capabilities allow us to produce initial prototypes within a few days, depending on the application. We provide operational support to our partners from conceptual design through pre-series production and offer consulting services through to the series production of embedded systems and IoT devices.
Research activities related to embedded systems
Fraunhofer IML is the leading research institute for the digitalization and automation of logistics. In the field of embedded systems, researchers focus primarily on the following topics:
- Optimized embedded systems for local AI applications
- Sustainability and energy efficiency of embedded systems
- Fail-safe embedded systems
- Embedded systems and robotics
- Firmware development in Embedded Rust
- Interoperability between C and Rust
Our references in the field of embedded systems
Intelligent level sensor
The ITCPRO level sensor was developed in collaboration with Rhenus. With this sensor, unnecessary trips to half-full containers are a thing of the past: It detects the current fill level, sends a notification when a defined threshold is reached, and automatically triggers the pickup process.
evoBOT
At Fraunhofer IML, evoBOT was created as an autonomous, multifunctional robot for various applications in logistics. The development of this dynamic transport robot incorporates diverse expertise from the field of embedded systems regarding sensor technology, actuators, and active manipulators.
IoT device for pharmaceutical logistics
A key outcome of the Silicon Economy research project is an innovative IoT device that operates in conjunction with blockchain technology. It enables active, sensor-based monitoring of temperature trends, acceleration values, and geodata for a fully picked thermobox containing temperature-sensitive vaccines.
Cold chain monitoring with the Sensing Puck
The “Sensing Puck” project combines sensor technology and IoT to provide seamless monitoring of sensitive supply chains. The puck-shaped device measures and records parameters such as temperature, humidity, and location in real time, thereby improving quality assurance and process efficiency.
Digitize and automate logistics processes – with embedded systems!
FAQ about embedded systems
What are embedded systems?
Embedded systems are specialized computer systems that are integrated into devices or machines to perform specific tasks. They consist of hardware and software and often operate in real time to deliver precise and reliable results.
What advantages do embedded systems offer businesses?
Embedded systems enable process automation, leading to greater efficiency and lower costs. They also offer the opportunity to develop innovative products and services based on real-time data.
Furthermore, IoT devices can help companies offer new services to their customers and tap into entirely new business areas. This white paper provides an introduction to business model development for IoT devices. It is available only in German.
In which sectors are embedded systems used?
Invisible yet indispensable: Embedded systems are used in numerous industries, including the automotive industry (e.g., control systems), medical technology (e.g., monitoring devices), and logistics (e.g., transport monitoring). They are also used in industrial automation to control robots and monitor production processes.
How do embedded systems contribute to sustainability?
Embedded systems contribute to sustainability by optimizing process efficiency, which potentially reduces energy consumption and conserves resources. The use of intelligent sensors and control systems in industrial automation allows for better monitoring of goods flows and control of processes, leading to a lower environmental impact.
Which programming languages are typically used for embedded systems?
Typically, the programming languages C and C++ are used for embedded systems. At Fraunhofer IML, Rust is increasingly being used in the development of embedded systems as a modern alternative. Rust ensures memory safety and thus addresses one of the most common sources of errors in embedded software.