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Blockchain Mining: Definition, Process, Pooling & Miners

Hello Friends, Hope you are doing fine and having fun in your lives. In my previous tutorials on blockchain and Ethereum, I have talked about mining a few times. So, in today’s article, I am going to discuss the concept of mining with you. This is an important part of learning the working of blockchain to see how the decentralization of blockchain happens. Let’s start today’s article by defining mining.

Blockchain Mining

As blockchain is a peer-to-peer network. Mining is also a peer-to-peer process.
Blockchain (or Ethereum) mining is used to verify transactions on the network.

In this process, miners (the person or node who performs mining) add transaction records to the decentralized distributed ledger of the blockchain.
The transactions are added to the blocks, and the blocks are secured and linked after mining in the form of a chain.
Mining requires computational power and effort from miners. And basically, it is the process of adding blocks.
In this way, the transactions get confirmed and money and assets move from one account to another.

This was the idea of mining. In the next part, I am going to define the miner and discuss its role in the Ethereum blockchain network.

Blockchain Miner

As defined earlier, a miner is a person or computer that performs the mining process.
Miners provide their time, efforts, and computer resources for mining and serve the blockchain system.

As a reward for their contribution, miners get transaction fees. The sender (or initiator) of the transaction pays this fee to the miner.
A miner adds a number of transactions in the new block and collects the transaction fee for each of them.
Any person can become a blockchain miner. A blockchain mining software needs to be installed and executed by the miner. This allows them to communicate with the blockchain network.
A computer performing this process then becomes a node. The nodes interact with each other to collaborate for verifying transactions.

This was all about the miners and their importance. Now, I will explain the idea of decentralization in the context of mining in the upcoming section.

Mining and Decentralization

I have discussed the concept of decentralization in previous articles. Decentralization means no central server or no central authority to manage and control the data. An example of centralization is our traditional banking system. And an example of decentralization is blockchain. Decentralization is related to the mining process. Miners contribute to the blockchain system by providing their computing powers in verifying the blocks of transactions. This verification process is mining and it eliminates the need for a central entity. The agreement of everyone on the state of the Ethereum network is essential for this system. Miners make this possible by solving the blocks and this increases the trust and security in this system. The decentralized process and consensus happen from these four processes.

Each transaction is verified by every node independently. The verification is done based on complete criteria.
The addition of these verified transactions into new blocks by miner nodes independently. The addition is done with a computation via a proof of work algorithm.
The new blocks are then verified by all nodes independently. The next step is assembling these blocks into the chain.
The selection of the chain having computation via proof of work, by every node independently.

In the next part, I will discuss the step by step process of mining via nodes.

Mining Process

For explaining the procedure of mining in steps, let’s start with the transaction generation.

The first step is the initiation of a transaction by an account.
A person (an externally owned account) starts a transaction by providing all the necessary data and then signing it via his private key.
The transaction is transmitted to the Ethereum network via some node requesting to be confirmed by miners.
When nodes of the network get a request from a transaction, they add that unconfirmed transaction to the pool of other such transactions.
All unconfirmed and unadded transactions will wait in that pool.
Any miner starts the process of mining by adding hundreds of different transactions in its block. More number of transactions means a more rewarding fee for the miner.
The miner verifies each transaction in its block and executes any code with it.
The miner would change the state of the Ethereum virtual machine and produce the proof of work certificate for its block.
The miner also produces a checksum of the new Ethereum virtual machine (EVM) state.
When the computation is complete and a certificate has been produced for the block, it would be transmitted to the network.
When other nodes receive the new block, they check the authenticity of the block certificate.
Then execute all transactions included in the new block and check the state of the Ethereum virtual machine.
They produce a checksum of their EVM state and match it with the checksum of the EVM state provided by the miner.
If the checksum matches, the new block is added to the blockchain. The resulting EVM state is accepted as the new state.
The transaction confirmed via a new block is then removed from the pool of unconfirmed transactions.
Every new node that joins the blockchain network downloads the complete blockchain starting from the genesis block.
Each transaction of every block is executed again until the final state of EVM is obtained. This state matches with the EVM of all other nodes.
In this way, transactions get verified again and again increasing trust and security features.

So, guys, this was the process of mining. I tried to make this easy to understand for beginners. Before concluding this article, I want to introduce you to another concept related to mining and that is “Mining Pools”.

Mining Pool

With time, the mining competition has been increased.
Mining a block requires a lot of electricity and hardware resources and the likelihood of successful mining is very low.
Therefore, miners now group and work together in mining pools where they share their resources and also the reward.
In this way, everyone gets something out of their input.

In conclusion, I hope you have got an idea of how mining works from this article. Next time, I will present another new concept to you. Till then, take care!

Ethereum Blockchain: Definition, Currency, Working & Components

Hello friends, Hope you are doing good. In my last tutorial, I gave you an introduction to blockchain technology and this article is the second one of this series. Today I am going to talk about Ethereum. In simple words, Ethereum is an open-source platform of blockchain technology. But unlike the bitcoin blockchain, it offers more functionality. The blockchain in bitcoin tracks bitcoins only. It tracks the ownership and transfer of bitcoins. While Ethereum is not only a payment network for cryptocurrency but also termed as the world computer due to its wide functionality. First, let’s go through the key introductory points of Ethereum, and then we will dive into the details:

What is Ethereum Blockchain?

Ethereum blockchain is an open-source global platform that supports decentralized applications.
It offers a programmability feature, coding is done in smart contracts.
It runs its own currency named Ether and is abbreviated as ETH.

Now let’s take a look at its invention history, and then I will talk about its features in the next sections.

History of Ethereum

In this section, I will give you an idea that how Ethereum was invented and why there was a need of developing such a platform. When bitcoin was invented and people realized the power of blockchain, developers tried to design new applications other than cryptocurrency. The limited functionality of the existing blockchain made it difficult to build different types of projects and hence, arose the need for a new blockchain.

In 2013, Vitalik Buterin presented a white paper giving the idea of the Ethereum blockchain. Afterward, Vitalik and Gavin Woods worked together and built upon that idea. And guys, finally in 2015, the first block of the Ethereum blockchain was mined. So, this was a little history and now before getting you bored, I will move towards the next section explaining the programmability of Ethereum.

Ethereum Programmability

The main function of Ethereum is that it is programmable, which means applications can be built on it.
It is a general-purpose blockchain capable of executing code.
The language offered by bitcoin was very limited with limited data types and size, but this is not the case with Ethereum.
Ethereum is also called Turing complete and I will explain the concept of Turing completeness in the upcoming sections.

Working of Ethereum Blockchain

I am going to tell you about the working of Ethereum Blockchain in this section.

The memory in Ethereum stores data and code.
The Ethereum blockchain tracks the changes in data and thus it tracks the changes in its memory.
Ethereum first loads the program, executes it and finally stores the results in its blockchain.

This procedure is the same as in the computers that we use in our daily life. The difference is that the data in our computer is stored locally while in Ethereum blockchain, the changes in state are distributed and each node has data stored in it. Also, the changes in data are according to the consensus rules. The process can be summarized as:

Accepting transactions from different nodes or accounts.
Updating the state for accepted transactions.
Storing and maintaining the state in its memory.
The states are maintained until another accepted transaction happens.
This process is repeated for each change.

Now let’s list down some main components of ethereum technology. I am going to give you a simple definition of each one for a basic understanding.

Components of Ethereum Blockchain

The components of Ethereum are given below:

Peer to peer network:

Ethereum blockchain is a peer to peer network, all computers or nodes are connected with each other.

Nodes:

Any device whether a computer or a mobile, connected to the blockchain containing the data are called nodes. All nodes are connected to each other.

Transactions:

The messages exchanged on the network are called transactions. A transaction involves a value, a recipient, a sender, and a data payload.

Consensus Rules:

The set of rules that is followed for considering the validity of a transaction and a block in Ethereum I called consensus rules. These rules are enforced by all nodes.

Consensus Algorithm:

The consensus algorithm is the procedure to obtain agreement on the longest chain in the distributed Ethereum network. The most commonly used consensus algorithms for Ethereum are proof of work and proof of stake.

State Machine:

Ethereum transactions and state changes are processed by the state machine called Ethereum Virtual Machine abbreviated as EVM.
Ethereum virtual machine executes the program in machine language.
These programs are written in a high level language such as Solidity and then a compile converts the program into bytecode.
The program written in a high level language is called a smart contract.

So, these were some components and terminologies associated with Ethereum Blockchain. Next, I am going to introduce the cryptocurrency that Ethereum uses.

Ethereum Currency: Ether

The cryptocurrency used on the Ethereum blockchain is ether (ETH). This cryptocurrency acts as fuel for the execution of smart contracts. This currency is integral and users pay it for using the Ethereum network. The purpose of this currency is:

Storing value.
Allowing users to perform transactions by exchanging payments.
Allowing payments for computational costs of code execution means each transaction executes by paying a small transaction fee.
Running applications (Decentralized Applications).

At the time of writing this article, the currency is worth 2355.44 USD. That was some basic idea of the ether, now let’s move towards smart contracts.

Smart Contract

A program that executes on Ethereum is called a smart contract.
It is a set of rules or codes that control the transfer of value according to programmed conditions.
One feature of a smart contract is immutability. Immutability means that the code of a smart contract cannot be changed after its deployment.
Smart contracts are deterministic. The outcome of the smart contract execution is the same for anyone running it.

Before concluding this article on Ethereum introduction, I will give you an idea of Turing completeness as I mentioned earlier.

Turing Completeness

Ethereum is a Turing complete system.
Ethereum can read and write data to memory and execute programs in the Ethereum virtual machine.
It can compute any program that a Turing complete machine can.
The main difference provided by Ethereum is that it combines computing power with blockchain.
All of the characteristic features of blockchain are combined with the programmability feature and that makes Ethereum a useful invention.

That was all for today. I hope you have got an idea about Ethereum. Next time we will move towards the interesting features of this technology and also we would talk about dApps in upcoming articles. Till then, take care!

Characteristics of Blockchain Technology

Hi friends, hope you are doing well. I have given you an introduction to Blockchain Technology and ethereum in my previous tutorials. In today’s article, I am going to talk about the characteristics of blockchain. There are several key characteristics of blockchain technology that make it different and usable from other technologies. The architecture of blockchain is so unique that it inherently provides a lot of features to this technology. These features have benefits for several areas and sectors so let’s discuss these characteristic features.

Characteristics of Blockchain

We have already discussed the components of Blockchain in our previous tutorial Introduction to BlockChain Technology. Now, let's understand the characteristics of Blockchain one by one:

1. Decentralization

The most important one on the list is decentralization so I am going to explain it first.
Blockchain is entirely different from traditional internet architecture where each computer or system is connected to a central server. The central server is responsible for managing data.
In the blockchain, each system has access to the whole data with no central server controlling the operations. No organization is in charge of the data.
The consensus mechanism in the blockchain is responsible for controlling the network.
Each node has an updated copy of data and execution power instead of only one server having data and execution control.
The benefits of decentralization are listed below:

Less Failure

One benefit of decentralization is that the network and data are available always even if some server or node is not accessible.

User Control

Users have full control of their assets and transactions.

No Intermediary

There is no need for a central authority for verifying transactions.

Less possibility of hacking

Attacking the system requires a lot of computing power.

Distributed Ledger

The next feature is distributed ledger and to understand this, I will define ledger first. A ledger is a file for recording the transactions.
An example is the ledgers in banks. All transactions of an account are listed in the ledger in an order. Each new transaction is added to it while retaining the previous record.
Similarly, every approved transaction is added to the blockchain ledger while maintaining the previous history.
The blockchain ledger is open to everyone as any node can view the transactions.
Also, every node on the network is connected to other nodes of the network in many to many connections which makes it a distributed network.
The network is maintained by all of the nodes. Each node provides computational power to this system.
Some of the benefits of a distributed ledger are as follow:
- Fast Response: As the network is distributed with no central power, the transactions take less time.
- Participation: Every node participates in maintaining the record and database. Each node takes part in the validation process.
- No Tempering in Data: Each node has a copy of data, a single node cannot temper the past data. Any malicious activity is noticed easily.
- Equal Privileges: All nodes in the distributed network go through the same process of transaction verification.
This was some idea of a distributed ledger in the blockchain. Next, I will talk about the Immutability feature.

Immutability

Immutability is a core characteristic of blockchain. Immutable refers to something that cannot be changed with time.
The data stored in the blockchain cannot be corrupted and this is a very useful and interesting feature.
In the blockchain, immutability means that any records or transactions stored in it can never be changed or removed. Let’s explain how immutability works here.
The data in the blockchain is added in the form of blocks. These blocks are verified by nodes and every entity of the network accepts them.
Every node has a copy of data and changing a single copy residing on a single node cannot alter the data on the entire network.
The data in each block is cryptographically secure and hashed. Each block is identified by its hash value and each block has the hash value of the previous block too.
Changing the data of a block changes its hash value too and as each block contains information of the previous block the hash no longer matches with the next block of the chain.
So, the distributed nature and cryptography make the data immutable in the blockchain.
Once a transaction is recorded in a block, verified by nodes, and added to the blockchain, no one is able to modify or remove that from the database.

Security

The next feature that I am going to discuss is security. The architecture of blockchain provides data security.
Due to cryptography, all information is secure in the database and that makes it different from the existing internet structure.
The account information is also secure and the identity of each node is hidden. Each account has a private and public key. The private key is secured and cannot be generated via public key.
The network is controlled by a set of rules instead of any authority. So, no one is able to change the rules for themselves. The system enforces security and integrity itself.
Now let’s talk about another important feature i.e., traceability.

Traceability

Blockchain provides the traceability feature.
Traceability means being able to trace and track the origin of something. Traceability allows verifying the source or origin, history, and all data of a product.
As blockchain is an immutable database, any asset or transactional data can be traced back.
The origin of any transaction can be traced back to the distributed ledger.
This characteristic is very useful in a lot of applications such as in a supply chain network.

Cryptographic Hashing

I have already given you an idea of what cryptographic hashing is in this article. The blockchain transactions are all cryptographically secured.
The transactions in a block are hashed and thus converted to a fixed-length value. This value is stored in the block.
Data can be converted to a hash value but a hash value cannot be converted back to input data which implies that cryptographic hashing is a one-way function.
The pair of a public and a private key for each account also has cryptography associated with it. The public key is generated from the private key. The private key is secured and not shared on the network while the public key is open on the network. The public key can be generated via private key using cryptographic functions but the private key cannot be generated using public key due to the one-way nature of cryptographic functions.

Anonymity

Having discussed the important features of blockchain technology, let’s not leave out another significant property that is anonymity.
On a blockchain network, the true identity of a participant is hidden.
Each participant of the distributed network has an address associated with it. This address is the identity of that entity instead of a true identity.
The addresses keep the user anonymous on the network.

So, I have explained the basic characteristics of blockchain that make it unique from the traditional systems. I am hoping that you will get an idea of the benefits of blockchain after reading this article. I will come with another useful article next time. Till then, take care!

Blockchain Technology: Definition, Structure, Architecture & Components

Hello friends, Hope you are doing good. Today I am going to talk about the technology that is most hyped right now and is said to bring revolution to the internet. Yes, I am talking about Blockchain technology and I am going to start explaining it from the very basics. Let’s start with a little history here without getting into too many details of it.

The concept of blockchain was introduced to the world by Satoshi Nakamoto although this concept was first described in 1991. The technology was introduced via bitcoin which is a cryptocurrency invented in 2008. You must have heard about this cryptocurrency already. Now I am going to move towards the introduction of blockchain in the next section.

What is Blockchain Technology?

Blockchain is a distributed network that acts as a ledger and also as a system for transferring assets eliminating the need for centralized authorities.
In simpler words, blockchain is a ledger for transactions but actually, it is more than that.
I will explain this concept with a daily life example and then I will give you an idea about its structure.

Example Case:

In our traditional systems, all our money and assets are stored in banks. All transactions take place via banks and if I want to initiate a transaction on my own it is not possible and no money transfer can take place without involving these banks. So, in this case, the bank is the central authority. It contains a record of all our data, assets, and money transfers. Blockchain technology allows us to have control of our money without the involvement of a central party.

Structure of Blockchain

In this section, I am going to tell you about the structure of the blockchain.

Blockchain is an ordered structure, a list of ordered blocks.
These blocks contain transactions and records.
The blockchain is stored in the form of a database or a flat-file.
Each block is linked to the previous block of the list, in such a way that all blocks are layered on top of each other.
The first block of this list is the foundation and is termed as Genesis block.
Each block in the list is called the parent block of the upcoming block.

Block Identification

As I already explained how blockchain contains a list of blocks in the previous section.
This list keeps on increasing day by day and in order to identify a particular block in the list, some identification parameter is needed.
Blockchain technology uses cryptography for data security and therefore all data in a block is converted to a hash value.
SHA256 algorithm is used for generating this hash value.

I will explain cryptography and hashing in the upcoming tutorials. For now, it is enough to understand that by using cryptographic techniques, block data is converted to a hash value. A hash value is a fixed-sized numeric value and this value is used for identifying a block from other blocks of the chain. Each block points to the previous block that is the parent block by having its hash value.

Another parameter used for block identification is Block Height.
This parameter shows the position of the block in reference to the first block that is the genesis block.

Thus, we can say that there are two parameters that help in identifying a block:

Hash Value.
Block Height.

Now let’s move towards the next section of this tutorial which will help you in understanding the architecture of a blockchain.

Architecture of Blockchain

In this part, we will learn the basic architecture of this technology which in turn helps in understanding its working.

The main feature of blockchain is decentralization, which means there is no central server or authority.
All computers are linked to each other instead of being connected to one server.
These systems are called nodes and they are connected in a peer-to-peer network.
The database and all information are available and stored on each node. In other words, the information is distributed throughout the network instead of being copied.
The peer-to-peer network and decentralization are the powerful features of blockchain and provide security and trust in this system.

I am going to explain decentralization through a simple example given below.

Decentralization Example:

The concept of decentralization can be grasped by looking at the example of google drive. The shared content on Google Drive such as a document or a spreadsheet is accessible to a group of people. Some of them also have the right to edit those files. Let’s talk about that group. Each person in the group has the right to edit and change the document and each person has access to the updated file. Everyone can work simultaneously on the document. The same happens in the blockchain. Anyone has access to the data and anyone can add new data. The difference is that each change is recorded in the blockchain and cannot be deleted from blockchain history. This feature comes from the immutability of blockchain which I will explain in subsequent tutorials.

Components of Blockchain

In this part of the tutorial, Let's talk about some basic components and key ideas of blockchain technology.

Peer–Peer Network:

Blockchain is a peer-to-peer network as I mentioned earlier in the previous section. The nodes or participants of the network are connected.

Transactions:

Transactions that are contained in the blocks. These transactions represent the changes in state.

List of Blocks:

A chain of blocks that contains all transactional data.

Consensus Rules:

Another important component is a set of rules called consensus rules that are defined for confirming transactions ad agreeing on state changes.

State Machine:

A state machine whose function is to process transactions.

Incentive Scheme:

A process of giving incentives to nodes that participate in confirming and verifying the transactions.

There are different types of blockchain today. Each of them has a few different properties and different qualifiers have been assigned to recognize them. A blockchain can be a public, private, open, consortium, etc. These were some basics of blockchain technology. I am hoping that you have learned something from this tutorial. I will explain further about these concepts in upcoming articles. So stay tuned. Take Care.

Real Life Applications of Embedded Systems

Hello friends, I hope you all are happy, healthy, and content. Today we are going to discuss a very interesting and versatile topic, "Real Life Applications of embedded systems". Embedded systems are everywhere around us, they have countless applications from the medical field to electronic circuits and mechanical automotive parts. There is an endless list of their applications, we will only be discussing some of the mainstream applications today.

Applications of Embedded Systems in The Medical Field

Embedded systems are used widely in the medical field, from manufacturing an artificial robotic limb to large-scale imaging techniques that are non-invasive in nature, embedded systems cover everything!
Some of the imaging techniques involving embedded systems include MRI, PET scan, CT scan, SPECT scan, which are powered by industrial computers.

Modern embedded electronic stethoscopes are also being used by high-budgeted hospitals in the developed countries.
Embedded medical devices match the symptoms of patients with already existing files on the system to determine the disease, hence decreasing the workload of the physicians.
Vital sign monitors and insulin pumps used in hospitals also imply embedded systems.

Application of embedded systems in the Automotive Industry

The automotive industry has revolutionized itself by using embedded systems for introducing new concepts in the market.
Modern-day cars use cruise control, airbags, emission control system, and navigation systems among many other functions, all having an embedded system which works synchronously with each other.
Hybrid vehicles with higher efficiency and lesser pollution are a result of modern embedded systems otherwise the older versions were contributing to the world pollution on a large scale.

Embedded systems have led to better engine control, the concepts such as brake-by-wire and drive-by-wire are the products of embedded systems.
New safety systems such as Electronic Stability Control ESP, Traction control system TCS, Anti-lock Braking System ABS have been developed by using embedded systems.

Application of Embedded Systems in Telecommunications

Whenever Apple launches a new iPhone, the world goes crazy over it and they are sold out completely in weeks and days, have you ever thought why? All thanks to the sophisticated embedded systems they keep on improving every year, providing higher speed, efficiency, and sleek design to their customers.
Mobile embedded systems and network embedded systems are an ever-growing category of the embedded systems, all thanks to their sophisticated functionality and compact design manufacturing.

There are endless examples of embedded systems in the telecommunication sector, web cameras, networked security systems, modern-day air conditioners using Wi-Fi to function, and many other similar appliances that use embedded systems.

Applications of Embedded Systems in Motes

Let me ask you guys first, have you got any idea about motes? Here is a simple answer to this question, motes are also called sensor nodes, and can gather and process sensory information, communicating that sensory information to the other parts or nodes of a Wireless Sensor Network.
A Wireless Sensor Network is a dedicated system of sensors that detect and record changes in the environment, the data collected by these motes are sent to a central location via GPS.
These motes help in detecting the changes in air pollution, humidity, air pressure, noise pollution, and other environmental conditions using the embedded system.
Motes like many other embedded systems are battery operated and run on power-saving mode, their batteries can last for years before they are needed to be replaced by new ones.
A lot of real-time actions and decisions are based on the data collected by these motes!

Applications of Embedded Systems in Consumer Electronics

In our previous article about the types of embedded systems, we briefly discussed the example of washing machines and air conditioners being manufactured using the embedded systems and how they work.
There are countless examples like the one stated above such as printers, dishwashers, water dispensers, central cooling, and heating system, and whatnot! All of them are highly efficient and advanced, you only need to enter the instructions and the automated system takes care of the rest!
Look around and observe, can you identify any other? You can!
Home automation which is also known as Domotics, the process of building a smart home is carried out by embedded systems, all the automated devices and systems such as lighting, temperature control, and security systems are connected to a central hub which is controlled by the internet connectivity. This is indeed a costly pursuit, mainly used by elites in developed countries, you might have seen such a system in movies revolving around the drug cartel's owners and their lavish lifestyle.

Applications of Embedded Systems in Avionics

Embedded systems didn't spare avionics at all, modern-day airplanes use modern navigation devices such as the inertial navigation system INS, which helps in calculating the orientation and velocity of a moving object without any external reference.
Modern-day GPS systems have led to better air traffic and navigation control leading to greater security and satisfaction of the passengers. It has provided more safety and efficiency in flights, all thanks to embedded systems!

Applications of Embedded Systems in Safety-Critical Systems

Embedded systems have made their way to safety-critical systems as well, I have a question here, do you know, what a safety-critical system is? Let me tell you about safety-critical systems first, a safety-critical system can be defined as, "A system whose failure can result in death or serious injury of the people involved, posing severe damage to the equipment and lastly it can result in an environmental hazard as well".

Following are some of the example of safety-critical systems,

Pacemaker, failure of a pacemaker can lead to the death of a person.
Space shuttle, a space shuttle launch failure can cost hefty amounts and can result in environmental hazards as well.
The nuclear power plant, we all know the sensitivity of the matter, a missile launch involves a lot of financial risks, along with that human lives and environment is also tied to it.

These systems involve the use of embedded systems for higher efficiency, sophisticated functionality, and security purposes.

Application of Embedded Systems in Smart Cards

Every other person who works today has a smart card, they are the new wallets and need of the hour as everyone cannot carry a hefty amount of cash in a wallet or a purse. A smart card is the ultimate source of convenience in many ways and has become the utmost necessity of everyone.
Smart cards have several types based on their purpose of use, but the manufacturing and design are relatively similar in all of them.
Smart cards are available in many forms nowadays and surprisingly they make use of embedded system technology as well.

Applications of Embedded Systems in Robotics

Robots have replaced humans in many aspects with the entry of Artificial intelligence in the field, which has served as the cherry on top.

Humans are slow and inefficient in some heavy tasks, but a robot has everything preset to perform a task such as time, manner, and pace, which has helped robots to take over many jobs which were previously done by humans.

Robotics involves embedded systems that are sophisticated enough to carry out complex tasks efficiently and precisely which cannot be carried out by humans in such a manner.

Applications of Embedded Systems in Banking

The banking sector has also reaped many benefits of the technology involving the embedded systems.
ATM, automated teller machine, security systems used in banks, online transaction systems have embedded systems as their core elements.
A detailed account of the working of an ATM has been explained in one of my previous articles on the real-life examples of the embedded systems.

Applications of Embedded systems in Security systems

From the most primitive times human beings have been most concerned with their security, as time passed, Intruders found new ways of theft and robbery, this problem was solved by security systems including cameras and alarms which involve embedded systems.
Security cameras and large-scale security systems are designed using embedded systems, they are commonly used these days for protecting offices, homes, and banks as well.
Nowadays, Embedded System Security is another growing field, which is involved in the protection of embedded systems from cyber-attacks.
Several technical parameters are followed to protect the system from any malicious behavior.

Techniques as SSL Secure Socket layer and SSH Secure Shell are used for encryption, but with modernization came modern problems, these protocols can be hijacked as well!

So, it was all about the applications of embedded systems, there are countless other applications as well, I have tried to cover the ones you must know! I hope you enjoyed reading the article, if you know any of the applications that have not been mentioned in the article you can tell us in the comment section below. Have a good day ahead!

Characteristics of Embedded Systems

Hello friends, I hope you all are doing well. Today we are going to have an in-depth discussion on the Characteristics of Embedded Systems. We have discussed What is Embedded Systems? & Types of Embedded Systems in detail, in our previous tutorial. So, I am hoping that you have a clear idea of Embedded Systems. Today, we will discuss different characteristics which are found in almost every Embedded system. So, let's get started:

Definition of Embedded Systems

We already know that an embedded system can be defined as,

"A dedicated system specially designed to perform a designated function, with a microcontroller or a microprocessor as its chief component, along with a software embedded in computer hardware, is called an embedded system."

Components of Embedded Systems

Let's have a brief overview of the components of an embedded system, which would later help us determine its characteristics.

A microcontroller or a microprocessor is the heart of the embedded system.
Embedded software keeps the embedded system on its feet.
Embedded Hardware, mechanical parts which serve to perform the designated function.
I/O ports acting as a connecting link between the peripheral parts and the microcontroller or the microprocessor whichever is serving as the core of the system.
And lastly, a timer to carry out the tasks timely!

Characteristics of Embedded Systems

Without any further delay, we will now discuss some of the general characteristics of an embedded system;

1. Specificity

Embedded systems can either be domain-specific or task-specific.
An embedded system is designated to perform the dedicated task only, it cannot be made to perform several automated functions from different inputs.
Let me give you a basic example, you can only wash clothes in a washing machine, it cannot cook food so this is a task-specific embedded system.

Meanwhile, domain-specific embedded systems fall under certain domains or categories such as a mobile embedded system is a domain-specific embedded system.

2. Strict Design Parameters

The design metrics are pre-defined for every system but they are configurable to a great extent, or we can say there is room for additions and extensions in systems other than embedded systems.
But there is very little room for extensions and additions in an embedded because we have to fix everything on a single chip, that can perform its designated function independently, as we have already discussed the components of an embedded system you can understand this very well by now!

3. Efficiency

An embedded system must be efficient enough to react and respond to the real-time environment.
In certain real-time embedded systems, a system has to react according to the real-time situation and adjust accordingly such as the air conditioner works on the same principle.
The cruise control of a car also works in a real-time response manner by reacting to the real-time situation hence managing the speed and brakes.

4. Microprocessor or Microcontroller based

The Embedded system must have a microcontroller or microprocessor.

Features of A Microcontroller A microcontroller is different from a microprocessor, and a microcontroller has the following features being listed below;

Most of the time a microcontroller is used according to the system requirements, which comes in different sizes such as 6 bit, 8 bit, 16 bit and 32 bit.
The microcontroller is composed of an external processor and internal memory along with I/O components.
It consumes less power because everything is present internally on the chip. A lot of microcontrollers have a power-saving mode as well.
It is easier to write a program on the microcontroller.
Some of the most commonly used microcontrollers are Arduino, 8051 Microcontroller and PIC Microcontroller.

5. Exclusive Memory

Embedded systems don't have a secondary memory, their memory is present in embedded software in the form of ROM.
Embedded systems can't have their memories extended or configured, have you thought why? Let me tell you because they are not general-purpose computers we use normally! They are dedicated systems for special tasks!

6. Multi-Rate Operational System

Some of the large-scale embedded systems are multi-rate operational systems i.e a large number of embedded systems are performing their dedicated functions independently to run a system.
All the multi-rate operational, embedded systems are well articulated to work synchronously with each other.
A car is such an example, many embedded systems work independently to keep a car on road. Yo.com.derstanding of this concept, there is an in-depth explanation of embedded systems working in a car along with many others examples!

7. Compact Design

An embedded system is designed to compact and lightweight as everything is to be placed on a single chip to perform a task including the microcontroller, timer, I/O parts, and the embedded software as well.

8. Minimal Power Dissipation

Embedded systems are designed in such a way to dissipate power at its minimal.
The goal is to conserve power and prevent overheating of the system by adding in heat sinks and cooling fans, and sometimes a larger battery is used to run the system.

9. Sophisticated Functionality

Embedded systems are highly advanced and developed these days, which are not aware of the sophisticated functionalities of mobile phones and tablets.
They are designed to perfection keeping in view the needs and demands of the consumer market!
Every other person wants to own an Apple iPhone, isn't it? Just because of their sophisticated functionality!

10. Minimal User Interface

Have a brief look at your air conditioner, your oven, or your washing machine, you might have noticed one thing in common, a minimal user interface.
Embedded systems are designed with minimal user interface because users have almost nothing to do by themselves, you only have to provide the input or we can say instructions, the system is already fully automated to perform the designated task accordingly!

11. Safety factor

A safety analysis is always necessarily carried out for the embedded systems to ensure the safety of the operator and the environment in case of any material damage or hazardous emissions from the system.

12. Cost-Effective

An embedded system is designed in such a way to make it cost-effective, overall the circuit is small since everything is present on a single chip.
A compact design and designated functionality make an embedded system less costly and high speed.

So, that was all about the characteristics of embedded systems, I have tried to cover almost every aspect, or maybe I have missed one or two, if you know any of the additional characteristics that I have missed, you can let me know in the comment section below! Have a good day!

What is 3D Printing? Definition, Technology and Applications

Departments:

Hello students, I hope this tutorial finds you happy, healthy, and content. The topic we have at hand today is "3D printing", it is a very interesting and versatile topic, and extremely easy to comprehend as well, it would definitely keep you hooked to your screens. You might have heard a lot about 2D and 3D objects, in this digital era almost everyone has at least once heard of it, do you know what is a 3D object?

A 3D object can be defined as,

"An object or structure that has three dimensions which includes width, length, and height."

Definition of 3D Printing

As you are now familiar with the term 3D we shall proceed further with our actual topic, so

Here we have the most commonly asked question of all, what is 3D printing?

3D printing can be defined as;

"Structuring a three-dimensional object in its physical configuration from its digital form"

3D printing and Additive Manufacturing

3D printing is also known as additive manufacturing due to the process of layering it involves. Both terms are used synonymously, digital printing is another term used for this purpose which you might have heard as well.

What is Additive manufacturing?

Additive manufacturing is the opposite of subtractive manufacturing which was used widely in the past involving gradual removal of layers from a solid block of any material either be wood or metal to form a 3D object.
Additive manufacturing as the name indicates is the layer by layer deposition of a specific material to form a 3D shape or structure.
This technique can be employed in powders be it glass, ceramic, metal and resins in liquid form.

Complex shapes and design elements can be easily cured on the materials using additive manufacturing techniques.
There is almost zero wastage of the raw material in the additive manufacturing process.
A narrow range of materials can be employed for the process which has relatively low melting points.

History and Origin:

In order to understand a complex process, it is extremely important to be well aware of its roots, as humans evolved so did their technology, 3D printing also evolved in its today's form with time. Here is a quick trip to the past of 3D printing;

Murray Leinster unknowingly presented the idea of 3D printing in his shorty story Things Pass By, in 1945.
In 1971, a continuous inkjet metal printer that could produce multiple prints on-demand by melting the metal, again and again, laid the foundation of 3D printing but still the term 3D printing was not coined at all.
Ariadne a column by David E. H. Jones in 1974 introduced the concept of 3D printing by its name, finally!
In the 1980s many scientists worked on 3D printing some of them failed miserably on the hands of low budget and lack of support, some of them materialized their 3D printing dreams.
The popularly introduced and used technologies for 3D printing by then were Stereolithography, Ultraviolet lasers, and Photopolymerization.
The first-ever 3D commercial printer was SLA-1 launched in the market by 3D Systems Corporation in 1988.
By 1999, 3D printing was not a new concept in the commercial market, within the initial years it was very expensive to buy a 3D printer but later due to increased demands the prices dropped a bit.
By 1993 inkjet 3D printing started known as the dot-on-dot technique, introduced by Solidscape industries.
In the first two decades of the 2000s, 3D printing experienced its full bloom and evolution, the process became cost-effective and efficient all thanks to the innovations and materials that were introduced in the industry of 3D printing.

Technology Used In 3D Printing

After going through the origin and history of 3D printing, you might have a vague idea of the technology used in 3D printing. 3D printing makes use of several types of efficient technologies which includes;

Stereolithography SLA
Multi Jet Fusion MJF
Direct Metal Laser Sintering
Electron Beam Melting
Laser sintering
Selective Laser Sintering SLS
Digital Light Processing DLP
PolyJet Fusion.

Before a detailed preview of the technologies involved in the process of 3D printing, let’s study a few basic processes that are involved in 3D printing which are:

Photopolymerization
3D slicing
STL file configuration

Here's a brief account of the above-mentioned processes;

1. Photopolymerization

Photopolymerization refers to the curing of photopolymers under exposure to Ultraviolet light.
You must be wondering, what a photopolymer is? A photopolymer is a resin material that solidifies under UV light.
It helps in the solidification of several layers at once making it a quicker process than others.
Photopolymerization makes the exposed material tough and durable.

2. 3D Slicing

3D slicing is the process of breaking down a design into several layers.
It simply involves cutting a design in layers, these layers are then deposited one by one on each other during the printing process.
A slicer generates a G code which helps in providing instructions to the 3D printer that is how the print process should be carried out.
A lot of software is available in the market which can be used for 3D slicing such as Cura Slicer, Slic3r, and Simply3D.

3. STL file format

STL file format is mostly used in Stereolithography.
It is also called Standard Tessellation Language or Standard Triangle Language
STL file format is used for describing the surface geometry of an object to be printed by the 3D printer before the process starts.

All types of 3D printing technology serve the same purpose of printing the object in its 3D shape, the only difference they have is in the layering techniques and materials that are specific to each type. Some of the insanely famous technologies used in 3D printing have been enlisted below.

4. Stereolithography SLA

The term Stereolithography was coined by Chuck Hill in 1984.
SLA is also called VAT Polymerization.
SLA process involves the production of a 3D model by casting a light beam on the photopolymer resins.
When the UV light beam strikes the polymer layer, it castes a design on the polymer bed, the design then solidifies and moves one inch downward, afterwards another sheet is polymerized in the same way, the process continues until the 3D object is formed completely.
After the competition, the modeled object is washed with the solvent to remove excess resin from the layers making the design neat and sleek.
This process is highly expensive yet fast, you can generate your model in a day.

5. Selective Laser Sintering

It is very similar to the technique being used in SLA but differs in the use of powders instead of resins and laser beam instead of UV light beam in case of selective laser sintering.

A high-powered pulsed laser beam such as a Co2 laser beam is projected on the powder bed, according to the 3D modeled file fed into the system.
Powder beds can be made of any material such as Polyamide, Polystyrenes, Polycarbonate, and materials with thermal stability and durability are used.
The 3D model is formed layer by layer by melting and then solidifying the powder layer, these layers are then fused together in the end to form the finished product.

6. MultiJet Fusion

Multi-jet Fusion is used commercially for the production of 3D prototypes.
A fusing agent and a detailing agent are used in the process.
A nylon powder bed serves as the material for making the prototypes as the core material.
A layer of material is selectively fused with another layer with the help of a binding agent which is also called a fusing agent. The layers after fusing are exposed to the thermal energy sources for better binding.
After fusing the layers with each other, a detailing agent is then applied to create design elements and smooth surfaces.

7. Electron Beam melting

Electron beam melting is a 3D printing technology that is mainly used in the production of heavy metal parts.
It is similar to Fused Deposition Modelling, both of them only differ in the material being 3D printed, FDM makes use of plastics meanwhile Electron Beam Melting implies metal as the core material.
An electron beam in a vacuum chamber is used to melt the metal powders, several layers are formed one by one, and these layers are then solidified together, for producing a 3D print.
The end product doesn't require thermal treatment for the solidification of successive layers, unlike other 3D printing technologies.

8. Fused Deposition Model FDM

It is the most commonly used method of 3D printing these days.
FDM is used for the production of 3D prototypes and small-scale end products as well.
Thermoplastic material like Polyacetic acid is used in the process as the core material.
A 3D object is printed in layers by heating the thermoplastic material and extruding it on the layers by extrusion nozzles.
The liquefier head along with the extrusion nozzles moves in X and Y coordinates according to the instructions already fed into the printer depending on the design of the 3D object.
Each layer when formed is consolidated with the layer beneath it which hardens by time.
The Fused Deposition Model is quick and produces sturdy 3D products with sleek finishing.

9. Laminated Object Manufacturing LOM

As the name suggests, laminated object Manufacturing makes use of laminated sheets coated with adhesive material.
The sheets can be made of plastic or paper according to the requirement of the 3D model.
All the laminated sheets are glued together under specific temperatures and pressure.
The laminated sheets are then cut into the desired 3D shape with the help of a laser or anything other cutting-edge technology.
This is one of the outdated methods of 3D printing which aren't used today.

10. Direct Light Processing DLP

Direct light processing has a similar working principle as of SLA, the only difference is the nature and use of the Light beam in the case of digital light processing.
DLP makes use of a DMD, A Digital Micromirror device made up of a semiconductor chip that has multiple micro-sized mirrors arranged on it in the form of a matrix.

You must be thinking about what these micro-sized mirrors do? So here's your answer, they reflect the projected light beam on the Vat or resin bed forming the pattern according to the instructions of the printer. The design thus cured on the resin is in the form of voxels, if you are not well aware of a voxel, then let me tell you, Voxel is a three-dimensional cube inside the three-dimensional grid of a 3D model in the parallel 2D world it is similar to pixel but it is definitely not a pixel!

DLA is faster than the other known methods of 3D printing to date.

11. Direct Metal Laser Sintering

Before diving into metal sintering, here is a question for you, do you know the meaning of sintering?
Sintering is the fusion of particles into a single solid mass without melting, under specific temperature and pressure conditions.

Direct metal laser sintering has a similar working principle as Selective Laser Sintering, the only difference they have is the material being used.
Selective laser sintering can implement the use of any material like ceramics, plastic or glass meanwhile, direct metal laser sintering can only be used for powdered metals.
DMLS is widely used for the production of metallic parts and prototypes on an industrial level

12. Poly jet 3D printers

Poly Jet printers are similar to inkjet printers.
These printers jet photopolymers on the surface of the design bed which is later on cured with UV light. A layer-by-layer additive process creates the full-fledge 3D object.
The most amazing feature of Poly Jet printing involves the use of two or more materials for a single prototype or product. You can manufacture any part of the 3D modeled object with your desired material without disturbing the other parts.
Post-processing is not required while we use PolyJet printers, the 3D modeled object is ready to be used right after manufacturing
PolyJet 3D printing is an expensive yet speedy process, with higher design accuracy than the other 3D printing technologies yet known to us.

The following table shows the summary of all the technologies we use in 3D printing, you can go through it for a quick sneak peek of the overall process for each of the mentioned technologies for 3D printing.

Process of 3D printing

We have completed the section on 3D printing and the technology being used for 3D printing by now, you must be thinking of the process involved in 3D printing! Let's discuss this process step by step in detail for a better understanding;

Step 1: Modeling

3D printing begins with the process of designing the product in digital form using software like AutoCAD, solid works or whichever you like to work with as there are plenty of modeling software present in the market.

Step 2: 3D Printing

After the approval of 3D design the file is fed into the 3D printer which translates the digital file into STL format.
After translation of digital file into STL file format, a 3D Slicer starts configuring the whole process, layer by layer.

Each layer is deposited on the other according to the technology your 3D printer works on, it can be SLA, SLS or DLP. The process then continues until all the layers have been formed and our 3-dimensional object is complete. This was all about the process of 3D printing, absolutely simple and easy to understand! Isn't it? You can get anything 3D printed from the service providers nearby, cost depends on the dimensions of the object being printed. 3D printing has become less expensive now as compared to the past, all thanks to the increase in demand which led to the availability of better pocket-friendly options.

Applications of 3D Printing

3D printing has countless applications some of them are being listed here:

Rapid Prototyping

3D printing is used for Rapid Prototyping of 3D structures, I have a detailed tutorial on Rapid Prototyping, and you can definitely read it for an in-depth study of the topic.

Small Scale Production

3D printing is used for the end-products in industries as well, this feature of 3D printing has brought itself on a commercial scale.

Medical Equipment

3D printing has left its mark in biomedical engineering as well, from the prototyping of artificial limbs to the manufacturing of splints and braces on small scale, 3D printing knows no bounds.

Anatomical Models

Anatomical models of body organs and systems are 3D printed for educational purposes.

Assembly Parts

Small assembly parts made from powdered metals are also 3D printed for mass production, because of their cost-effectiveness.

Toys and Games

Legos and small toys produced from manufacturing-grade plastics have made their way into the market all thanks to 3D printing.

Research and Development

Almost every kind of 3D prototype can be printed with the help of 3D printing techniques, these prototypes are used for research purposes.

Art and Design

3D printing is used in the field of art of design for making sculptures, you might have seen a lot of them in the student's thesis display! If not, pay a visit after the pandemic ends.

Jewelry

Limited edition jewelry is an extremely hyped-up thing these days, although the production cost is not as much as the tags say, but women buy it for the sake of self-satisfaction! These limited edition pieces are also 3D printed.

Agile Tooling

Agile tooling that deals with the design and formation of tools that are related to tool manufacturing tools, including dies and molds also involves 3D printing.

Automotive Industry

The automotive industry is also using 3D printing for the manufacturing of components, Urbee is the first car in the world that used 3D printing for its components.

Architectural Designs

Architectural industry prints scalable 3D models of the buildings and bridges for evaluation and approval of everything that comes under building and construction.

Advantages of 3D Printing

3D printing has definitely made our lives easier and better, here are some of the advantages associated with the process:

1. Broader Design Window:

Complex parts and products are easily achievable through 3D printing technology, traditional methods of production had a lot of limitations in case of complex and intricate designs

2. Durable Parts:

The assembly parts that are manufactured with help of 3D printing are lightweight and durable because 3D printing can work with a variety of materials that better suits the manufacturer.
Although the materials have to be checked according to the required parameters for safety and sustainability.

3. Minimal Waste:

3D manufacturing is an additive process and hence less waste is produced, you must be wondering how?
The material only needed to build a 3D object is deposited layers by layer according to the design fed into the printer which means less waste.

3. Rapid Prototyping Made Easy:

3D printing makes rapid prototyping easier and faster, you can complete your prototype within days or weeks.
This feature was missing when people used to make prototypes through the machining process in the past.

4. Cost-Effectiveness:

The process of 3D printing is extremely cost-effective, you don't have to pay a lot of money in the form of labor costs and a large amount of material procurement.
A design and a 3D printer service provider can make your day!

5. On-Demand Production:

When you are using 3D printing for end-product manufacturing, you can easily print as many pieces as you want according to the supply and demand, so there is no need to stock up when you are using this method.
A slight modification or a bigger change in the design can be made easily in the 3D file of the product, without disturbing the entire design.

Limitations of 3D Printing

You are well aware of the advantages 3D printing serves, in this section we'll be discussing some of its limitations which is a necessary evil.
Different End Product as Compared To 3D Model:

1. Material Limitations:

Nobody wants it to be true, but it can be! 3D modeling software has rendering tools and other highly specialized tools which create a sleek design with intricate details and patterns on the product, the product may not have all the design elements when 3D printed because of the gap between the 3D world and the real world. 3D printing can experiment with a lot of materials when you prototyping for design and development but in the end, the materials with very specific properties can be employed for end product and its mass production.

2. Size of the Object:

The objects when 3D printed have smaller sizes because the 3D printers are not humongous enough to print large 3D shapes and objects, have you ever thought, how much changed would our world be, if 3D printers could print an Eifel tower or leaning tower of Pisa?

3. Post Processing of the 3D Object:

After printing the object that has been modeled, it is soaked or bathed in different chemicals to remove the access amount of adhesive materials left on its surface, we have to wait for the model to cool down to start post-processing which takes time!

4. Fragility of the 3D Structures:

A few 3D printing methods produce 3D prints that are not sturdy enough and can break down if a higher amount of temperature and pressure is put on them, Fused Deposition Modeling is one of those techniques, don’t fret! , a little amount of care can save your day! That was all about 3D printing, I tried to make it simpler for everyone. I presume you must have gained something out of it, if not, you can always revise it for another time, a second read never hurt anyone!

Types of Embedded Systems

Hello friends, I hope you all are happy, healthy and content! Today, we will be discussing the types of embedded systems. But, Before jumping to the types of embedded systems, let's first revise what is an Embedded System? I hope you have a clear idea about the embedded systems, if not, there is always a solution!

Definition of an embedded system

"An embedded system is a unique combination of computer hardware and a software designed for performing a specific function or set of functions from a certain input" For a detailed overview of the embedded system and its components, you can refer to the complete article on our website about embedded systems.

Types of Embedded Systems

Presuming that you are well aware of the embedded systems and its components, we will be discussing types of embedded systems in detail in this section. Embedded systems can be classified on two bases;

Performance and functional requirements of the system.
Performance of the Microcontroller used in the embedded system.

Types of embedded systems based on performance

As the name suggests these type of embedded systems comprise of a specific type of embedded system, aptly named after their functionalities and performance;

Stand-Alone Embedded System.
Real-Time Embedded System.
Networked Embedded System.
Mobile Embedded System.

1. Stand-Alone Embedded System

You might have made a rough sketch of a stand-alone embedded system by now after seeing the heading, let me explain it first so you may decide later if it was a right guess or not!

A stand-alone embedded system is an isolated system that operates on its own.
It converts digital or analog signals based on its input method, into the output in form of a task or a response.

Example of Stand-alone Embedded System

I have a simple example for you to understand these stand-alone embedded systems, if you have a fully automatic washing machine or a dishwasher at your home, it makes use of such an embedded system.
In the case of a washing machine, you start the process by feeding in the digital command for the task by setting water level, wash time, rinse time, spin time, and type of wash cycle.
The digital input is then processed by the embedded system through its various components into the output, which you receive in the form of task performed that is the fully washed, rinsed and spun clothes which are ready to be ironed without any hassle!
Many appliances such as sound systems, convection ovens, dishwashers have stand-alone embedded systems inside them.

2. Real-time embedded systems

Real-time embedded systems are required to perform their assigned function or furnish the output under strict time constraints.
Exact timing is crucial to the working of a real-time embedded system as the name suggests!

They can be further classified as;

Hard real-time embedded systems.
Soft real-time embedded systems.

Hard real-time embedded system

Hard-real Time embedded systems imply strict time control, otherwise, there would be a critical system failure.
There is lesser interaction of physical hardware with the embedded software in hard real-time embedded systems.
Missing a deadline for output generation is considered as the complete system failure in the case of a hard real-time embedded system.
In case of a delay at the system's end, it could only be up to a few microseconds, any value greater than this would pose serious problems.

Example:

Heart pacemaker; pacemakers initiate normal heartbeat for people with heart pathologies, your heart can't skip a beat! It only happens in movies!
Missile launch, what's the purpose of launching a missile if it isn't able to hit the target at the desired time? Wouldn't it be a waste of time any resources?
Air traffic control, timing is crucial as there are many lives at stake in this case.

Soft real-time embedded systems

Soft real-time embedded systems can tolerate delays in task or output execution by providing low service quality.
Soft real-time embedded systems aim at prioritizing a task when a certain subset of commands is given to the system for generating output.
The efficiency of the system degrades as deadlines are missed, this happens due to burnout and overload of the system with already existing commands.

Example:

Online database.
Live audio or video systems.

3. Networked Embedded Systems

In this modern era with the advancement of technology, networked embedded systems are being widely used. Before explaining network embedded systems, i want you to understand a networked system, Do you know what is a networked system? Let me explain; a networked system is a group of computers or devices connected through a network either through WAN, LAN or internet! So, a Networked embedded system can be defined as;

"The embedded system which requires a network to approach the resources for performing a given task is called a networked embedded system."

The network can be wireless or a wired connection in form of WAN, LAN or internet.

Example of Networked System

In this highly advanced era of WIFI, we'll be discussing the example of a networked embedded system using a WIFI to operate!
You might have seen advertisements of air conditioners and refrigerators using WiFi in their operation.
It’s a simple process, you start by installing an app already present at the play store, connect that app with your appliance and operate your appliance with the help of this app! Refer to the diagram below for a better understanding;
You can manage everything related to your appliance, from temperature regulation to self-cleaning, from your phone with internet connectivity! Isn't it revolutionary? Yes, it is, all thanks to a networked embedded system using an internet connection to operate an appliance for performing the desired tasks!

4. Mobile embedded system

As technology advanced and revolutionized, mobile embedded systems never stopped amazing the consumers with their growth and advancement in every era.
Mobile embedded systems are used in portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, modern-day PRISM cameras, DSLR and whatnot, they are everywhere, every small handheld electronic device makes use of them!

So it was all about embedded systems based on performance and function. We will be moving on to our next section, discussing the type of embedded systems based on the type of Microcontroller. Let's first discuss, what is a microcontroller?

What is a microcontroller?

A microcontroller is a small chip having CPU, RAM, ROM, I/O ports and timers on it; it is simply a pizza with its toppings!

Features of a Microcontroller

Here are some of the features of a microcontroller:

You can have your cheese burst pizza but your microcontroller can only bear a limited amount of RAM, ROM and I/O ports, extra topping isn't even allowed in the form of additional memory!
There are certain alternatives to the microcontrollers, but the latter suits well with the embedded systems, so why not use the one which suits the best?
Microcontrollers are available in different bit sizes from 4 bit, 8bit, 16bit to 32 bit,64 bit you can use the one required for your task.
They are cost-effective, minimize power consumption, control-oriented and highly reliable.

Now you are well aware of the microcontroller and its feature, we will be discussing the types of embedded systems based on the performance of microcontrollers!

Types of Embedded System Based on the Performance of Microcontroller

Following are the three types of embedded systems based on the performance of the microcontroller;

Small Scale Embedded System.
Medium Scale Embedded System.
Sophisticated Embedded System.

1. Small Scale Embedded System

As the name suggests a small scale embedded system makes use of a small sized microcontroller, ranging from 8 bit to 16 bit.
They are less complex in terms of hardware and software and can be operated with batteries as well because of their smaller size.
Mostly the C programing language is used in such embedded systems.

Examples of Small Scale Embedded System

Bluetooth headphones.
Digital pedometer.

2. Medium Scale Embedded System

Medium-scale embedded systems are more complex in terms of their hardware and software than the small-scale embedded systems discussed above.
They make use of microcontrollers that are larger in bit size i.e numerous 16-bit size microcontrollers or a 32-bit microcontroller is used in making the embedded system.
Programming languages like Java, C, C++ are used to develop software for medium-scale embedded systems.

Example of Medium Scale Embedded System ATM, which is widely used by us nowadays has a medium-scale embedded system in it. You can read a detailed account of its working in my previous tutorial about practical applications of embedded systems available on the website!

3. Sophisticated Embedded System

Sophisticated embedded systems, as the name suggests are highly advanced and developed in terms of hardware and software.
They make use of numerous 32 bit or 64-bit microcontrollers along with multiple programmable logic arrays PLA and configurable processors.
They are highly complex and are designed for performing complex tasks and functions.

Examples of Sophisticated Embedded System

Here are some of the examples using sophisticated embedded systems;

Modern-day air conditioners
Medical imaging systems
Industrial-scale ovens
Hybrid vehicles

Sophisticated embedded systems mark an end to our discussion about the types of embedded systems, I presume, you are now fully aware of the topic we have discussed in depth today, I have tried my level best to cover all the aspects related to this topic in an easy way, without any doubt it is an easy one to grasp, for better understanding and developing a clearer perspective you can revise the concerned section, a second read never hurt anyone! Have a good day!

What is Prototyping? Meaning, Types, Process, Tools and Examples

Hello everyone! I hope this article finds you happy, healthy and content. Today we are discussing a very interesting and versatile topic that might have crossed your path many times if you are related to any of the engineering fields most probably software, electrical, or mechanical, or if you are a final-year student struggling to get your project approved then you know the drill absolutely, or maybe you are someone who works with materials and crafts related to product design, Yes! You guessed it right! The topic we have at hand today is Prototyping.

Before proceeding and diving into the sea of prototyping, I want to make one thing very clear here: I'll be treating it in a generalized and systematic way; we will not limit our discussion to machine design or app design only! In fact, if you're involved in web design, finding the best Webflow agency could be key to ensuring your project's success. Now, let’s get started with the most important question of all: What is Prototyping?

What is Prototyping?

So let's get started with the most important question of all, What is Prototyping?

Definition of Prototyping

Prototyping can be defined as the Conversion of an intangible idea either related to the physical or digital world into a tangible configuration to test its feasibility, validity or efficacy.

You might have pondered many times, Why do we need to prototype our product or why prototyping is important in engineering? Prototyping is crucial because it helps in;

Materializing Raw Ideas:

It helps the designers and engineers in materializing their raw ideas.

Rectification:

Prototyping helps in the rectification of design flaws and loopholes in the very beginning of the project.

Material Versatility:

It helps in testing the design along with the materials proposed for use in the product.

Prototyping Attracts Investments:

Prototyping a product or a project attracts investors which can be a sigh of relief for the designers involved in the process.

Prototyping Saves Money:

It can help save money for the investors who are involved in the due process of mass production.

Profit Loss Estimation:

Prototyping can help in the estimation of profit margin or loss for the parties involved in the project.

Refine the final outcome:

Prototyping helps refine the final outcomes either in the case of a digital product or a physical one.

Prototyping Protects Intellectual Property:

It helps reserve the intellectual property of the ideator, just imagine you presented a rough sketch of a revolutionary idea to your friend or anyone in your vicinity and after some time you find your idea gaining money and fame but not with your name instead of your friend’s who researched it, prototyped it, sold it to an investor and earned money and fame, so now you know why we need to prototype an idea and how it protects intellectual property!

Prototyping and Materialization

Why Prototyping is called Materialization? Prototyping is also called Materialization because it turns an idea into something materialistic or tangible which totally justifies the term being used.

Types of Prototyping

Now the question arises, how we identify the type of prototype we require for our project to get approved? Or which type of prototype is needed for your product if you are working for a company?

It certainly depends on the two factors:

How the product would be used and which would be the target audience?
Representation or general appearance of the product we need to prototype.

We all have been somehow a part of the product testing and prototyping process in one way or the other when it comes to different types of prototypes either consciously or unconsciously. You must be wondering, "How you have been a part of it!" You would find out the answer to this intriguing question after knowing the types of prototypes explained in this section. Following are the few famously known types of prototyping depending on their usage and representative nature;

Feasibility Prototypes

These types of prototypes are made to test the viability and feasibility of the product.
For example, consider making a spatula we use in cooking with a material other than silicon, as silicon is the most commonly used material these days, in order to test the feasibility of your product, you would definitely prototype it first with a material other than silicon.

Live data prototypes:

A prototype intended to test the digital features and functionalities of a program or a solution.
Iit is very closely designed to the original product or solution using JavaScript, HTML or CSS.
Live data prototypes help analyze the success or failure of the project with the help of feedback provided by users involved in testing the product.

Miniature prototypes:

As the name suggests, this prototype is the three-dimensional or two-dimensional depiction of the product in a miniature form.
For example, in the inauguration ceremonies of the buildings and monuments, you might have seen their smaller versions being grounded there for the groundbreaking ceremony, a mini sculpture more precisely. Those are miniature prototypes.

Low Fidelity Prototypes:

It is a rough or low maintenance prototype of a product that doesn't give an advanced idea of the end results or feasibility of the project, they serve the purpose of;

Educating the audience.
Communicating with the audience.
Informing the people of a certain solution.

These low-fidelity prototypes can help connect with the target audience through the materialization of concepts and ideas in a tangible manner. Low Fidelity prototypes can be made in the following ways:

They can be made in the form of rough sketch.
Clickable wireframe.
A drawing representing the idea.
A mood board with all the collected data, summarized in the form of pictures, charts or graphs.

High fidelity prototypes

High fidelity prototypes as the name suggests are a high-end form of prototypes which are almost similar to the end product but not exactly the same as the original would be, it is used by companies with relatively high budget and sponsors. Qualities of high fidelity prototypes may include:

It is almost similar to the product.
A combination of materials can be tested making a high fidelity prototype.
A high-fidelity prototype may lack a feature or two as compared to the original product.
It renders enhanced user interaction and testing.
It can help identify and rectify design flaws in a more effective and efficient way.

Display prototypes

Display prototypes are made around the end feel or appearance of the product, it may not be a working model of a product instead, it is intended to show the audience how would they feel about the product when they would hold it for the first time in their hands! For example,

A non-working, non-functional physical model of a mobile phone is yet to be launched in the market.
A display of a desktop screen of a laptop prior to its launch.
A draped dress on a mannequin with pins without being stitched to perfection just to give the idea of how it would look like when stitched in actuality.

Video Prototype

You might have seen countless animations and short clips on the social media pages of certain websites related to technology and lifestyle, when they are about to launch a product, they video prototype its functionality and forward it to social media platforms.

It’s another way to connect with your audience.
People get hooked to the screens more in the case of animation.
Video interaction with the users intrigues them.
It compels the audience to make a buying decision which enhances sales.

Process of Prototyping

By now you are fully aware of Prototyping and its types, we will be discussing the process involved in prototyping.
First thing first, do you know why an engineer or a designer is compelled to prototype a product?
Which makes him or her indulge in the process?
Which circumstances initiate this tiresome journey?
Let me summarize this pathway for you mapping it straight to the prototyping;

When a certain individual or a company face a problem either be it digital or physical it paths down to a significant amount of research,
The research proposes a lot of solutions,
Amongst all the proposed solutions, the one feasible enough is chosen,
The chosen solution is then tested in terms of feasibility, durability and market parameters.
The product or the solution is then prototyped, upon rejection or approval, it decides the fate of your idea in solving the problem which hindered your path!

Qualities of a Prototype

A prototype must have the following qualities when accessed:

Accuracy

The prototype must be precise and accurate enough to be interpreted and accessed accurately, to move further with the production process of a product.

Articulation

All the parts of the prototype should be articulated well, a well configured and a well-structured prototype has higher chances of approval from the clients.

Basic Functionality

A prototype must perform basic functionalities if it is somehow related to the digital field or a digital solution. Take the example of an app to be launched in the market, the app must have the basic functions to help understand its usability when prototyped.

Tools for Prototyping

You must be wondering, How we prototype a certain product or an idea? Create a rough sketch in mind, we will be discussing it in detail within the next section,

We design our prototype digitally at first with all the dimensions and specifications
After that, we move towards the solidification of that digitally approved prototype if it is a tangible product!
Just as we can say that, we would definitely digitally prototype a mobile app meanwhile a silicone spatula would be physically prototyped in a three-dimensional structure and form.
Keep one thing in mind whether it a digital or physical prototype, you have to design it first using software that suits you best.
With advanced solutions and boom in soft technology, we have now countless tools in the prototyping industry which can be picked up and used according to client's convenience and ease either paid or free, each of them has their own specialties and workflow.

Problems Requiring Digital Prototyping:

Some of the things that require digital prototyping include;

UX/ UI
Website design
App development
Video animation
Architectural design
Product design
Artificial limb replacement
Orthotic devices
Weapon design and production
Tech packs in the fashion industry

Commonly used Software for Prototyping

There are countless tools and software to create a digital prototype which includes;

Photoshop CC
Figma
Vectr
Envision
Webflow
Grunt
Axure
Origami studio
SketchUp
Gulp
Yarn
AutoCAD
Solid works

Photoshop CC:

Photoshop creative cloud is a famously used software for modeling, sketching and rendering designs, who have not used Photoshop even once in life? Almost every designer had gone through it once. You need to buy a paid version of Photoshop CC in order to start your journey as a product designer. It is an extremely versatile software of the digital world.

Figma:

Figma is a web-based graphic designing app that allows graphics of almost every kind to be designed either it is a user interface, website design a 3D model of a tool or a product under construction. A fully functional version of the website is only available once you pay for it, you can buy a membership plan which suits you the best. Multiple designers can work on Figma on one document which is a unique feature only provided by Figma.

Vectr:

Vectr is a very easy-to-use software that you can use for prototyping a certain object you require, it is simple and can be learned with a bit of practice within no time. It is readily available offline as well, the collaborative feature of the website makes it possible for multiple users to work on a single design at a time.

InVision:

InVision is widely used for prototyping and collaboration among people who work remotely, it improves workflow among the participants. The initial version is absolutely free of any cost for everyone using the software. You can sketch your design and turn it into a prototype by using tools provided in InVision.

WebFlow:

Webflow, as the name suggests, is solely dedicated to website design, you can design your prototyped version of the website without any hassle, as it is very user friendly and convenient, another sigh of relief is that you do not need to code the website while designing it, doesn't it make the prototyping process easier and convenient?

Grunt:

Grunt is a slightly high-end tool available in the market amongst the one we have studied above, it’s a JavaScript task runner which is used to perform many automated tasks which have been predominantly defined ahead into the Grunt file. The most amazing feature it provides is the availability of files having routine tasks that a user can run anytime on its system, and another amazing feature includes the customization of the files, a user can cut and prune the file according to its own needs without any inconvenience.

Axure:

Axure is one of the most celebrated prototyping tools out there in the competitive market, it generates high-quality, user-friendly and interactive prototypes that can later be coded through HTML, CSS and JavaScript by using its in-built HTML output file and then published accordingly. It is available free for the students and teachers although the professionals have to pay for their monthly or yearly subscription. It is widely used by website designers, Head designers, UX analysts and researchers as well.

Origami Studio:

Origami studio was developed by Facebook. It is absolutely free and has a user-friendly interface and provides hassle-free creation of digital prototypes which can, later on, be analyzed on their app as well. You can build your prototype and check its user interface and interactions in a real-time situation, it also helps analyze workflows.

SketchUp:

SketchUp is advanced software that is used in machine design by a lot of designers for its rendering capabilities,

It can render a lot of dimensions of a prototype.
It is used for the 3D modeling of a design.
It has a very simple user interface that is easy to understand and comprehend.
SketchUp makes 3D modeling of a prototype relatively easy for new users as well.

Gulp:

Gulp is a JavaScript toolkit used in web development, it provides seamless workflows through shorter and simpler configurations as compared to other provided tools in the market, you just need to understand the basics to use Gulp, and then you are good to go! Create website prototypes and test them easily anytime through already configured settings, you can ever tweak them here and there as per your liking, isn't it a lifesaver? Definitely, it is!

Yarn:

This is not your ordinary Yarn used in textile for clothing purposes, it’s a tech solution that is completely known as, Yet Another Resource Negotiator.

The yarn has outdone its competitor in the market because of its insanely high spend, a speed that is matchless and can download multiple packages in one go!
It also acts as a project manager for your coded website or a design by sharing it in the form of packages with other designers and developers to test your website, with high security and reliability! Isn't it amazing? Multiple people can test and rectify your prototype without any hassle!

AutoCAD:

If you are an engineering student or somehow related to product design then it is impossible that you are not aware of AutoCAD! AutoCAD helps to design a 3D prototype of a product with all the dimensions and specifications, after approval of the 3D design you can get it printed in 3D form for presentation on different platforms. AutoCAD is widely used in the physical 3D modeling of prototypes in the industry.

Solid works:

Solid Works as the name suggests, presents a very solid base for product design for engineering purposes, from sketching to rendering and then prototyping which leads to 3D modeling and printing solid work knows its virtue! Solid works has an extremely user-friendly interface but some people find it difficult to work with just because of the lack of exploration and practice, a little practice and dedicated time would definitely make you a pro. Solid Works has changed the lives of engineers and product designers for good! Do give it a try if you want something detail-oriented yet simple to work with!

Examples of Prototyping

Our discussion started with the basic definition of prototyping followed by the characteristics of an insanely good prototype, leading to the types of prototyping and the tools we use to develop these prototypes we are now at the end of this discussion and I presume that you have a basic understanding of all we have learned by now! Now, let's have a look at a few examples of prototyping:

Prototyping Examples in Industrial World

There are endless examples when it comes to prototypes, almost every industry related to the design and development of a product or software implements it.
Let’s have a quick view of the industries that use prototyping.

1. Prototyping in Automotive industry:

Before releasing or launching a new model, it is always designed and prototyped first, initially into a digital form using software like AutoCAD or Solid Works and then it is moved on it 3D printing for representation.

2. Prototyping in Architectural Design:

A building is first prototyped in software like SketchUp, AutoCAD, InDesign, Revit, Photoshop, 3D max studio and whatnot!

3. Prototyping in Biomedical Industry:

Have you ever gone for a tooth replacement? Or you might have observed someone's knee replacement? Everything is prototyped with the proposed material first, after checking for material, allergies associated with the material and the design elements related to the prosthesis and the approval of the prototype, actual replacement is made for the limb or a part of body to be replaced which can be a joint, teeth or a bone. It is certainly a long process and costly too

4. Prototyping Machine Assembly and Spare Parts:

Have you ever seen a machine whose parts do not articulate into each other well enough? You must have not because of the fact that it designed and prototyped first and after completely testing it and getting approved by the quality control department, it is launched in the market and same goes for its assembly parts or spare parts available in general.

5. Prototyping in software and web design:

Our discussion would have been incomplete if software prototyping wasn't here in the list, the most commonly heard and tested prototypes of all are the ones used in the software industry, let me tell you how! Whenever you are about to launch an app, a prototype with limited functions is given to some of the users for testing purposes to check the user interaction and workflow.

The prototype doesn't have all the functions the app or the website would possess, instead, it provides a few basic ones to analyze the user reaction on the launch.
You must be thinking about why the prototype doesn't have all the features? The answer is so simple to hunt, who would buy the complete package after the launch if your prototype has it all? Obviously no one!

6. Prototyping in product design:

Let's take IKEA as an example who has never let anyone come even closer to the revenue it generates yearly!
IKEA has a very unique selling point, which is hidden in the self-assembling of their furniture by customers, this assembling of the furniture provides a sense of self-satisfaction and achievement which compels them to buy more.
Do you really think, all these self-assembly parts which seamlessly fit into each other by the customer itself are achievable without being prototyped? No, not at all!
All these parts and designs are Sketched and prototyped, first digitally and then physically in 3D forms. Now you know the power of prototyping? Definitely Yes!

7. Prototyping in Aerospace Industry:

Prototyping is an essential element to the design process in the aerospace industry, evaluation of the parts designed, their feasibility and durability are checked with the help of prototyping, designing it first and then modeling with the help of 3D printing. A design flaw or a loophole can be rectified using a prototype saving everyone from a major disaster.

Military Prototyping:

Military prototyping is extremely crucial to military Industry when checking the feasibility and viability of a weapon, from tanks to guns and missiles prototyping has a significant role in the successful launching of a weapon checking its utility and design, a minor loophole or a flaw can cost millions to the inventors which would be derogatory to the budget as well.

Prototyping in Robotics:

Prototyping in robotics goes hand in hand with the design and configuration of the robot, without prototyping the manufacturer would never be able to see the true outcome of the features and added designs that are essentially required for the successful launch.

Scenario-Based Example of Prototyping:

We are now done with the practical examples of prototyping in different industries, in this section, we will discuss a scenario-based example to help you grasp the concept in a better way.

Prototyping a Physical Product

For understanding, this scenario put yourself in the shoes of a product designer, you are a product designer now who has been asked to design a mug that keeps things warm in winter and cold in summer, but with a very unique instruction in the design elements of the mug, it must not be covered on top. What would you do now? Let's us break the process down for your convenience;

Step 1: Research

Research is the utmost part of a project, what can you do without it? Obviously nothing! Research must be your strong forte, search for the already existing designs in the market with similar specs.

Step 2: Design

After research, you would definitely be considering the design and material for your mug, which keeps the liquid warm in winter and cold in summers!
Ultimately after design selection you would sketch it in your desired software in a 3D form be it AutoCAD or solid works or any other one you like the most; it would be the digital prototype of your project.

Step 3: 3D printing of the prototype

After the approval of the digital prototype, the next step would be the materialization of your design into a three-dimensional structure, this step would be achieved with the help of 3D printing and it would be a physical prototype of your product.

Step 4: Approval of the Prototype and Rectification of Errors

In this stage of product development, we have a digital and a physical three-dimensional prototype of our product which has been tested with different materials and design constraints.
The final design is approved after all the rectifications have been done.

Step 5: Mass Production of the Product According to the Prototype

The final prototype got our mug with unique design and features approved, and is now all set for mass production.
Voila! You have made it to the competitive market with a revolutionary product. Good work!

Prototyping a Website or an App

Now you know how the prototyping process takes place and leads to the production of a product either be it small or large, without prototyping it would not have been possible to make a design or a product error-free, which is a really important factor for influencing the buying decision of our target audience. The previous example was all about a physical product launch and how prototyping is involved in the process, in the next scene we would be discussing an example related to an intangible product which is a website or an app design. Let's get started;

Step 1: Researching the Key Features and User End Expectations

App development starts with the research phase, but this time you have to orient your research around your target audience, find out the features they want you to add or the things that don't like in the user interface and all the necessary stuff required for the job with the help of survey or a poll.

Step 2: Design a Low Fidelity Prototype for User Interface

After identifying the key requirements develop a low fidelity prototype with the help of any software you like such as Invision which would help create the basic functionalities of the user interface.

Step 3: Production of Live Data Prototype

A low fidelity prototype can be turned into a live data prototype making a few features of the app functional.
This would help in generating true feedback and analysis for the app when tested by the people, you might have seen some testing versions of an app saying; "this feature of the app is not available in this version”, which is the reason why they aren't available.

Step 4: Approval of the Prototype and Rectification of Errors

After the approval of the prototype by the investors and data collected by the audience, we move towards adding the complete features that were planned for the app.

Step 5: Release for Public Use

The app is then released with complete features and is made available to the general public for use.

That was all about the use of prototyping in the app and website development, you can yourself see that the process would have been incomplete if prototyping has to be skipped completely or partially. It is not necessary that all the steps mentioned above have to be followed exactly in the process, instead any of the steps can be altered by the developers according to their plan of action.

Limitations of Prototyping

Nothing in this world exists without imperfections and minor flaws, same is the case with the process of prototyping, no doubt the process in itself is remarkable enough to do wonders wherever implied, but it has some limitations as well which are being stated below:

Exaggerated Expectations:

The product or the object which is prototyped can sometimes create unreal expectations for the final outcome which may not be achieved in real life.

Material Constraints:

Material constraints can play a major role in creating problems for the product designers, the material which is prototyped may not turn out well enough when used for mass production on a large scale which can add additional costs and strains the budget in turn upsetting the shareholders.

Lack of Absolute Imitation of the Presented idea:

Prototypes are scalable models which are materialized on large scales in real life, the digital forms of a prototype may not be able to communicate everything about the final physical product what the designer has in mind, in simple words, you cannot put everything in your mind you have on a piece of paper accurately.

So, summing up, this section concludes our journey of prototyping, without any second thought I can say that you have learned and understood the concepts well, if not, it is never too late to mend just give it another read! Good luck!

What is Rapid Prototyping? Techniques, Software, Examples and Advantages

Hello friends, I hope you all doing great. In today's tutorial, we will have a look at What is Rapid Prototyping? We will also discuss different techniques used in rapid prototyping, Rapid Prototyping Software, Examples, Advantages etc. Have you ever witnessed the manufacturing process of new launches in large-scale and renowned industries? From rough draft to the final approval a lot of steps are involved to launch something new into a competitive market where a single flaw or defect can wipe you and your product off from the market. Rapid prototyping is one of those steps and techniques which helps mitigate that risk and is implied worldwide in many industries and businesses. Before we start our discussion on Rapid Prototyping, let's first discuss;

What is a Prototype? & why do we use a prototype?

A prototype can be defined as; "The three-dimensional model or imitation of an object or a project that provides the real-time information and visualization regarding its functionality, design and the fact that how much better or worse the product or project would turn out in reality after completion" We can say that prototyping serves the following purpose

We make prototypes to decide in the favor of a product or against it.
It can help us rectify flaws even before the production starts on a large scale, to avoid any future losses.
Prototyping gives us the idea about the substantial future of the project whether it would be a hit or a miss
The future product can help gain investors and sponsors if the prototype turns out to be successful.

As of now, we are well aware of the prototype and what is it used for, from now onwards we will be discussing our actual topic, “Rapid Prototyping". Rapid prototyping has revolutionized the manufacturing process to a great extent, with advancement in technology there comes revolution and ease, you might have witnessed or experienced one or two steps of Rapid Prototyping in your industrial internships or University assignments, in case you have or you haven't, I'll be explaining everything in detail, Don't worry!

Rapid Prototyping definition

We can define rapid prototyping as;

"Rapid prototyping encompasses an amalgamation of several techniques for making a three dimensional model of a certain product or mechanical part of an object to be manufactured, through data provided by Computer-Aided Design ( CAD) after the approval of the initial design for the product or a smaller part of the product"

Following are some points peculiar to the rapidly prototyped object:

The model which is produced through this method is scalable, which means that actual values and measurements are used to make a prototype that can be extrapolated on a large scale afterward turning it into a gigantic object.
Computer-aided design (CAD) data is processed further into reality for fabricating the three-dimensional model after approval from the design team.
The techniques of additive layer manufacturing and 3D printing is used, in case you don't know about additive layering and 3D printing, it can be defined as,

“Rendering the use of adding certain materials like plastics, solids, resins and powdered products layers by layer into the design to make the final product."

Grades of Rapid Prototypes:

There are two grades of prototypes used for this purpose;

High Fidelity Prototypes
Low Fidelity Prototypes

High Fidelity Prototypes:

A prototype that is almost exactly similar to the end product we are opting for is called a high fidelity prototype, it is mainly used in machine design, aerospace, automotive industry and biomedical engineering. We are going to discuss high-fidelity prototypes today which are the face of the present and future!

Low Fidelity Prototypes:

A low fidelity prototype is a rough imitation of the product or a part we are about to manufacture, it can be on paper or any other medium, this type of prototyping is not much used in machine design and manufacturing.

History and origin

In older times when there was not much advancement in the field of design and manufacturing, it was a very laborious task to shape a model of an upcoming project or a product in three-dimensional forms, the measurements and the outcomes were not that accurate to the extent they needed to be, they were not three dimensional either and were made from wires and hooks, yes! You heard it right! Our forefathers used to make planning and development models by hand and that too with wires!

Pioneer of Rapid Prototyping

Research and development was a nerve-wracking task back then, until in 1970 when Unix Circuit Design System also called as USDS surfaced on the horizon, Henryson and his colleagues at Bell Labs laid the foundation of a new era.

Evolution with Time

Just like human beings evolved and adapted to the environment with time, in the same way, our technology evolved too, the following are some of the happenings which tremendously changed the future of Rapid Prototyping:

Topography

In 1982 the technique of TOPOGRAPHY was widely used, it involved using resin plates with designed edges and contours on them, combined together to form a model.

Photopolymers

In 1974 photopolymer resins were used along with the topographical techniques in order to harden the slices of different layers which were glued together later on for making the final product.

Photo sculpturing

After photopolymer resins and topographic techniques, finally in the 19th-century photo sculpturing was introduced to make a 3 Dimensional image which was an achievement in itself indeed!

Topography and Photo sculpturing

In 1944 Topography and Photos culturing were merged to form a more detailed three-dimensional model on different materials and objects.

Computer-Aided Design

Charles Hull was one of the first persons involved in the development of CAD, a computer-aided design which later on turned into the first rapid prototyping system after which there was no going back, technological advancements took this method to a whole new level making 3D modeling achievable and easier than ever before.

We do not need an in-depth history of rapid prototyping, for now, this section was only intended to make a foundation so that you may understand simple processes that were involved in modeling objects which later on evolved into the complex processes and techniques we use today for this purpose. Don't worry, we will be discussing the techniques involved in Rapid Prototyping in the next section!

Rapid Prototyping vs Traditional Prototyping

The prototyping that was done in older times was regarded as the traditional prototyping. Following are some distinguished points that would help you understand the difference between Traditional prototyping and Rapid Prototyping:

Modernity

Rapid prototyping is a modern technique meanwhile traditional prototyping as the name implies an older approach.

Time and Effort

Rapid Prototyping is time-saving and efficient meanwhile traditional prototyping consumed a lot of time and effort.
A lot of manual and laborious tasks have been cut down by the use of rapid prototyping which was a part of the traditional approach years ago.

Precision and Accuracy

Rapid prototyping intends to be more accurate and precise with the help of modern techniques and methods developed over time, on the other hand, traditional prototyping was a bit of a hassle with the least amount of accuracy and precision.

Material Versatility

Traditional prototyping techniques involved the use of wire frameworks manually to make a prototype of a product, meanwhile, rapid prototyping can implement a huge variety of industrial-grade manufacturing materials for the production of a prototype.

3D Slicing in Rapid Prototyping

Before studying the techniques involved in the process of rapid prototyping, you must be aware of the concept of SLICING, which is used in the process of 3D printing while making a rapid prototype of an object, 3D Slicing is comparable to slicing a big loaf of bread, let me explain how! consider a loaf of bread, when a loaf of bread is baked it is not in individual slices instead we make bread as a big chunk of flour and added ingredients, after baking, it is split into individual slices to make a sandwich or a toast, in the same way, these 3D designs are created as a single unit which is later splatted. So, slicing can be defined as;

"Splitting of the 3D design into individual layers for additive layer 3D printing"
This process is also called layering
3D slicing is carried out by 3D Slicer software used as an extension of AutoCAD or Solid Works
3D slicer is a free, open-source software
It allows a systematic, smooth workflow when paired with any of the modeling software like AutoCAD or SketchUp.

Rapid Prototyping Techniques

Rapid prototyping companies employed 3D and additive printing initially, the use of these two extended to such an extent that people started recognizing 3D printing and Rapid Prototyping as one entity, but it is not true to be accurate!

1. 3D Printing:

Rapid prototyping has evolved to a much higher level since its organ as we discussed earlier, although 3D and additive printing is still used for rapid prototyping but they cannot be regarded as two names for the same thing, so cutting it short, let's find out how 3D printing works.
Following is the step by step process which takes place when we model a prototype through 3D printers;

Step 1:

As the first step, a completely computer-based model is designed with all the dimensions that the final product would have.
Designing process takes place through Computer-Aided Design software also commonly Known as CAD.

Step 2:

Secondly, the data from CAD software is extracted and fed into the 3D printer for modeling.

Step 3:

3D printer requires STL file format for conversion of CAD design into a 3D model.
After file extraction and translation, slicing and layering are carried out to model the final 3D product using triangular facets.

Similar to 3D printing are some complex techniques as well which are being used commercially on large scale, here is a brief introduction to each of them,

2. Selective Layer Sintering or SLS:

Selective layer sintering refers to the process which requires a powder bed and laser beam to form the prototype layer by layer, a laser beam is projected on the powder bed which helps in the incarnation of the design on the plates, this process is not much appreciated due to roughness of the prototype manufactured.

3. Stereolithography, SLA or VAT Photo Polymerization:

As the name suggests stereo lithography makes use of an ultraviolet laser beam to carve the design on the light-activated resin sheet. If you don't really know about light-activated polymers or photopolymers and how they work, then you must know that these are substances that alter their shapes when exposed to a certain wavelength of light on specifically exposed areas. The most commonly used photopolymers include Acrylates and Methacrylate added with other materials to prevent shrinkage of the photopolymers while slicing the design.

4. Material jetting:

Materials jetting is less expensive than other methods discussed earlier, it is considered a good choice for 3D modeling when it comes to design and development in small-scale industries. Material jetting is also known as fused depositing modeling or FDM, a thermoplastic filament is used in the process for slicing the product. The product is made layer by layer in it but the only difference is the presence of thermoplastic filament which is present in the nozzle of the barrel, being melted at the time of modeling! , During the initial days of FDM the results were a bit off in appearance but now the quality has considerably improved.

5. Selective Laser Modeling or SLM:

It is also known as Powder Bed Modeling and has a wide range of applications in industries that require precision and accuracy at any cost and can invest in anything that fulfills this demand. Powder Bed Modeling as the name suggests making use of high-quality metal powders including Aluminum, Cobalt and Titanium. These powders are then melted with a very high-intensity laser beam to shape the layers of the prototype being produced. SLM is used in the aerospace, medical, automotive and defense industries, give it a thought, all these industries cannot miss their targets at any cost, isn't it? That's why they use this SLM prototyping technique, which is expensive yet reliable and durable.

6. Binder jetting:

Binder jetting works almost the same as selective Laser modeling but there is only key difference in the process of making a prototype, the process is not carried out in slices and layers as done in selective laser modeling, all the layers are made at once binding them with one another with a binding agent. Microfine droplets of liquid are sprayed on the top of the powder bed which acts as a strong adhesive for the powder molecules to bind together forming a layer, the layer just produced is not removed then, it is compressed to start another layer on it. The layers made altogether are put into an oven or a unit that burns the binding agent making it look seamlessly combined in place.

7. Laminated Object Manufacturing or Sheet Lamination:

You might have guessed the process by the title till now, Laminated Object Manufacturing makes use of thin laminations or layers produced one by one. These laminations are produced with the help of a laser beam or any other software which helps carve the design on the laminations. Once the individual laminations are done, they are glued together with an appropriate binding agent to form the final prototype. This technique is relatively inexpensive than the techniques we have studied above.

8. Digital Light Processing or DLP:

Digital light processing is one of the new advancements in the field of prototyping, DLP technology makes use of digital projection light beams. These projection light beams then carve out the three-dimensional design on the surface of the photopolymer layer. Digital light processing and SLA is also known as Stereolithography only differ in the use of projection light instead of the laser beam on the resin photopolymers for prototyping. The process is fast as compared to other available options in the industry and can be used for a variety of materials to create the desired 3D prototype.

Rapid Prototyping Software

As we are done with the basic understanding of Rapid prototyping and its techniques, you must be wondering which software are involved in the process, I have got you covered!

Following are the few well-known software being used in the process, just keep one thing in mind, you are not restricted to stick to any one of them, these software provide a complete visualization of the design from every nook and corner, the thing that suits you the best can be used, so here's the list :

Solid Edge.
Sketch up.
SolidWorks.
AutoCAD.

We will briefly discuss each of them so you might get a clear idea of what they actually do and choose for yourself!

1. AutoCAD:

Who is not aware of AutoCAD? The insanely famous software of all the software being used in the 3D modeling of prototypes. It is used for creating a 2D or 3D blueprint of the prototype. AutoCAD has a wide range of functionalities that help make a design with accuracy and precision. It is widely used by engineers in automotive, aerospace, biomedical, architectural and manufacturing fields. The Industrial file formats supported by AutoCAD includes;

The production formats that the software supports include;

stp
igs
step
stl

2. SketchUp:

SketchUp is similar to AutoCAD but is comparatively less complex in interface and design, 2D and 3D modeling can easily be done with the help of Sketch Up. SketchUp is highly liked by the designers for providing better rendering of the designs to give a clearer picture of what you would be getting in your hands if you invest in a certain product or project.

3. Solid Edge:

If you are somehow related to any of the engineering fields you must have heard of solid edge software for 2D and 3D modeling of the designs, there are many additional features that make the solid edge a go-to option for its users, product lifecycle management from third parties and finite element analysis being two of them. Solid edge provides Synchronous technology so that the user may switch between parametric and direct modeling whichever suits him best, by the help of this functionality you can edit a single aspect of the design individually without disturbing the whole design.

4. Solid Works:

Solid works and solid edge are always in comparison with each other being the talk of the town, this software may have some common features when come to designing and simulation like 2D and 3D modeling like many others, but Solid works differ from the solid edge in providing simulations for liquids as well, on the parallel lines it can also predict the stress withstanding capabilities of certain parts of the assembly with the help of stress analysis.

5. Other Software:

There are many other software for 3D modeling like Creo, Inventor, fusion 360, CATIA and blender among many others. You can easily learn any of them by watching tutorials and practicing the designs again and again. One must keep in mind the difference between the real world and the 3 Dimensional world, a lot of factors limit the viability and feasibility of a 3D model in the physical world which was rather possible in your 3D files!

Example of Rapid Prototyping

You might have heard and observed a lot of things involving Rapid Prototyping especially if you're an engineering or a biomedical student, or if you design orthoses and prostheses for disabled people, here is a step by step example of process rapid prototyping includes;

Rapid prototyping is used in machine design, an engineer who has specialized in machine design makes a 3D model of the product or part of an assembly in his desired software according to his requirements.
The 3D files made by AutoCAD, Sketch-Up, Creo or any other software are later on approved by higher authorities.
After approval these files are further moved on to the next department for 3D printing, the file is then translated into the file format which is apt for the 3D printer.

An appropriate technique is then chosen out the available options, the technique employed could be SLA, SLM, Material jetting or Lamination, and it solely depends on the demand and available resources.
The prototype is then modeled according to its design in a 3D shape.
This three-dimensional model is then presented for approval and is used to attract investors as well, it can also identify the flaws and loopholes in the final product that the designer might have missed while making the design.

Applications of Rapid Prototyping

There are numerous applications of Rapid Prototyping and here I am mentioning a few of them:

Assembly Parts

Rapid prototyping is used in making assembly parts for machines, individual parts can be designed and manufactured according to the need.

Development of Artificial Body Parts

Biomedical engineers can use rapid prototyping for making a model of artificial limbs either legs or arms.

Dental Industry

Dental implants and dentures can be manufactured with the help of rapid prototyping.

Electronic Circuits and Boards

An electronic circuit or a loop can be preliminary designed and modeled through this technique.

Aerospace Industry

Rapid prototyping is also used in Aerospace Industry for designing new parts and tools in order to replace the outdated ones

Prototyping A Building

Civil engineers take refuge in Rapid Prototyping when they' are asked to present the three dimensional model of the building, bridge, mall or any large scale monument to their investors, you might have seen small-sized models of the building prior to the commencement of the project, Haven't you? That's the rapid prototype of that building!

Usage in Hospitals

Rapid prototyping is also used in hospitals where advanced technology is used for surgical operations, you might have seen the seasons like The Good Doctor and The Night Shift when they are about to perform a complex surgery e.g. removal of a lesion from a certain body part, they firstly perform a three-dimensional analysis then a prototype is made to explain the complexity of the procedure to be done.

Jewelry Design

Jewelry designing implies the use of Rapid Prototyping as well, the design to be produced in bulk quantities is prototyped first for approval and after design approval sent to the production house.

Currency Notes and Coins

Currency and coins are also prototyped first before their release and presented to higher-ups of the state first.

Replacement of Small Parts

Small parts of airplanes and jets to be replaced are rapidly prototyped when needed to replace by the new ones.

Automotive Industry

The automotive industry is one of the largest manufacturing industries, a huge amount of assembly parts are needed in bulk, even a small defect in design can cost billions if not pointed out in the initial design that is the reason we automotive industry makes use of rapid prototyping before implementing a new design or spare part.

Robotics

When I was in school whenever I heard of the prototype I used to think of it as a kind of robot, I fancied a prototype as a robot which was clearly nowhere near reality, but nowadays robotics do implement the use of rapid prototyping to save their time and energy experimenting on new features and models of robots.

Designing New Models

A new model for a car or a heavy bike, for a ship or a submarine, or anything that has something to do with machine design is rapidly prototyped first and then manufactured after approval.

Analysis

Rapid prototyping is also used for analysis, such as finite element analysis, withholding capacity of a part or a structure on the whole, durability and flexibility of the product under study.

Advantages of Rapid Prototyping

We are almost at the end of our discussion about rapid prototyping, I hope and I expect that you might have grasped the concept by now! Everything in this world has its advantages and disadvantages, nothing has been made perfect but let's highlight a few advantages of rapid prototyping.

Time-Saving

In this modern world where every minute of a man's time is calculated on the scale of progress, who doesn't love time-saving technologies?
Rapid prototyping saves your time and energy by helping you identify the flaws in your design at a very initial level.

Value for Money

A small defect can cost millions to companies that invest in a competitive market, a prototype not only saves time but also saves money.

Determining the Future

Rapid Prototyping can determine the future of a project, if liked and appreciated it can attract clients which means it can attract money and investment for the production.

Pace

Prototyping is for the people who are at a high pace, slow and slovenly cannot win the race in this era, to be a rabbit who wins the race this technology is a go-to solution for turning your visualization into reality within no time, In older times when rapid prototyping was not a thing, people used to spend months and years over making a design which used to be flawed and messed up in the end. The models which used to take years of grind are now made in weeks, this benefit implies a greater pace at which a product can be launched into the market.

Cost Reduction for a Project

When a prototype is made in a week or two, it leads to the approval and production within a shorter period of time, you'll have to pay for lesser days to your staff which cuts down the overall cost of the project.

Room for Trial and Error

There is a lot of room for trial and error when you are using this methodology, even if your designs get rejected in the first attempt you can always give it another try and so on, because of the fact that 3D printing is extremely cost-effective, and you haven't paid for the mass production of an article yet, it is the price for a single 3D model which can be compensated later on with the success of your product.

Versatility of Materials

Let's suppose you want to make a screwdriver, firstly you'll make a design in your desired software may be AutoCAD, sketch up or anyone you like, after that you would contact the 3D printing services or any related agency for 3D printing, they would make a 3D print of your product, but now you want to test the materials which can be implied to make the screwdriver, what would you do? You'll definitely ask your service provider to make an imitation for the materials you want to test, they can make dummy materials for the testing of your product making it possible to test the end product with different materials. You can choose the best one for your final product when it is all set for production!

Assessing an Array Of Design Variations

Rapid prototyping helps test a huge number of design variations for a single product, you can alter any dimension of your product at hand according to your requirements. Previously it was not possible for the engineers to test as many designs as they wanted because of expensive machining processes, but now it is possible without worrying about the huge amount of money.

Altering a Single Part in the Whole Assembly

With rapid prototyping you don't have to make your design from scratch whenever you figure out a loophole in your design, the defective layer in the design can easily be replaced without disturbing the whole product at hand.

Manufacturing on A small Scale

Rapid prototyping not only allows the creation of scalable models, but it also allows the production of assembly parts in limited quantities being cost-effective and efficient too.3D printers are much cheaper and cost-effective than large production units.

Disadvantages of Rapid Prototyping

We have observed a lot of advantages related to Rapid Prototyping, but nothing on this Earth has been made without flaws, here are a few drawbacks of this technology:
3D modeling might create a highly unachievable model of a product, which may not be scalable in real life.
Material imitated and tested in 3D printing can, later on, prove to be fragile and breakable when it comes to real-world material procurement.
The actual product might not be able to bridge the distance between the three-dimensional world and the real world.

Summing up, we can say that Rapid Prototyping is a lifesaving technology that is evolving day by day, learning 3D modeling and related software would add to your skillset being a valuable in-demand skill these days, you can definitely capitalize on it once you are a pro.it would be a great investment indeed, a right investment at the right time pays back in the future! So, that was all about it, I tried to keep rapid prototyping simple and easy for you, hopefully, you might have understood the basic concepts and techniques involved in the process, along with its pros and cons. I'll see you soon with another interesting topic, stay tuned!

Syed Zain Nasir

I am Syed Zain Nasir, the founder of <a href=https://www.TheEngineeringProjects.com/>The Engineering Projects</a> (TEP). I am a programmer since 2009 before that I just search things, make small projects and now I am sharing my knowledge through this platform.I also work as a freelancer and did many projects related to programming and electrical circuitry. <a href=https://plus.google.com/+SyedZainNasir/>My Google Profile+</a>

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