Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Embedded Trace

Decades of advances in computer architecture, software-intensive applications and system integration have created significant challenges for embedded systems designers and test engineers. Intrusive software instrumentation and breakpoint-based debugging are often viewed as the primary options for observing operational system internals. This narrow sight creates complicated test flows and convoluted debugging procedures. Modern embedded computing systems offer Embedded Trace as the technological answer to the encountered observability conundrum. Although an integral part of virtually all modern processors, it is frequently overlooked. Its technical foundations are little known to application engineers, test engineers, and project managers. This article explains Embedded Trace as an essential technology in the testing and debugging toolbox. It highlights its capabilities, limitations and opportunities.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Embedded Trace

Decades of advances in computer architecture, software-intensive applications and system integration have created significant challenges for embedded systems designers and test engineers. Intrusive software instrumentation and breakpoint-based debugging are often viewed as the primary options for observing operational system internals. This narrow sight creates complicated test flows and convoluted debugging procedures. Modern embedded computing systems offer Embedded Trace as the technological answer to the encountered observability conundrum. Although an integral part of virtually all modern processors, it is frequently overlooked. Its technical foundations are little known to application engineers, test engineers, and project managers. This article explains Embedded Trace as an essential technology in the testing and debugging toolbox. It highlights its capabilities, limitations and opportunities.

A low-cost autonomous rover for polar science

We present the developmental considerations, design, and deployment of an autonomous modular terrestrial rover for ice-sheet exploration that is inexpensive, easy to construct, and allows for instrumentation customization. The total construction cost for this rover is less than USD 3000, approximately one-tenth the cost of existing platforms, and it can be built using facilities frequently available at academic institutions (machine shop, 3-D printer, open-source hardware and software). Instrumentation deployed on this rover can be customized; the rover presented in this study was equipped with a dual-frequency GPS receiver and a digital SLR camera for constructing digital elevation models using structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry. We deployed this prototype rover on the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream to map local variations in snow accumulation and surface topography. The rover conducted four autonomous missions based out of the East Greenland Ice-Core Project (EastGRIP) camp during July 2017, measuring surface elevation transects across the hazardous ice-stream shear margins. During these missions, the rover proved capable of driving over 20 km on a single charge with a drawbar pull of 250 N, sufficient to tow instrumentation of up to 100 kg. The rover also acquired photographs that were subsequently used to construct digital elevation models of a site monitored for spatiotemporal variability in snow accumulation, demonstrating adequate stability for high-resolution imaging applications. Due to its low cost, low-power requirements, and simple modular design, mass deployments of this rover design are practicable. Operation of the rover in hazardous areas circumvents the substantial expense and risk to personnel associated with conventional, crewed deployments. Thus, this rover is an investigatory platform that enables direct exploration of polar environments considered too hazardous for conventional field expeditions.

A low-cost autonomous rover for polar science

We present the developmental considerations, design, and deployment of an autonomous modular terrestrial rover for ice-sheet exploration that is inexpensive, easy to construct, and allows for instrumentation customization. Total construction cost for this rover is less than $3000, approximately one tenth the cost of existing platforms, and it can be built using facilities frequently available at academic institutions (machine shop, 3D printer, open-source hardware and software). Instrumentation deployed on this rover can be customized; the rover presented in this study was equipped with a dual-frequency GPS receiver and a digital SLR camera for constructing digital elevation models using structure-from motion (SfM) photogrammetry. We deployed this prototype rover on the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream to map local variations in snow accumulation and surface topography. The rover conducted four autonomous missions based out of the East Greenland Ice Core Project (EGRIP) camp during July 2017, measuring surface elevation transects across the hazardous ice-stream shear margins. During these missions, the rover proved capable of driving over 20 km on a single charge with a drawbar pull of 25°N, sufficient to tow commercial ground-penetrating radars. The rover also acquired photographs that were subsequently used to construct digital elevation models of a site monitored for spatiotemporal variability in snow accumulation, demonstrating adequate stability for high-resolution imaging applications. Due to its low cost, low-power requirements, and simple modular design, mass deployments of this rover design are practicable. Furthermore, operation of the rover in hazardous areas circumvents substantial expense and risk to personnel associated with conventional, crewed deployments. Thus, this rover is an investigatory platform that enables direct exploration of polar environments considered too hazardous for conventional field expeditions.