According to IMS Research, global sales of embedded computer boards and modules will grow strongly from almost $2.5 billion in 2009 to $4.3 billion in 2014. Although embedded computer board revenues declined by about 14 percent between 2008 and 2009, a strong recovery is expected in the next two to three years. More...

According to IMS Research, global sales of embedded computer boards and modules will grow strongly from almost $2.5 billion in 2009 to $4.3 billion in 2014. Although embedded computer board revenues declined by about 14 percent between 2008 and 2009, a strong recovery is expected in the next two to three years.

In particular, the computer-on-module (COM) segment is forecast to register the highest growth during the period. In terms of form factors, IMS Research projects COM Express revenues to grow 20 percent year-on-year, with annual revenues reaching over $270 million by 2014.

VDC Research Group echoes the same positive outlook. The market analyst expects the global COM market to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23 percent from 2009 to 2014.

Driven by emerging economies including China, the Asia-Pacific region’s embedded board revenues continue to rapidly increase. IMS Research noted that by 2014, the Asia-Pacific market is projected to account for about 32 percent of global revenues, up from 25 percent in 2008.

As the complexity of embedded hardware design and implementation accelerates, an ever increasing number of vendors will continue migrating into the embedded space with COMs and COMs-based solutions. In line with this, 2011 will see further strengthening of the Asian embedded supplier community as supply chain synergies, R&D capabilities and fabrication automation increases between upstream and downstream ecosystem partners, according to VDC.

Continued economic growth in China will drive the country’s automotive market and expand the need for MCU technology. Despite reduction in government subsidies, VDC expects the Chinese automotive market to expand substantially through 2015, driving adoption of MCU solutions.

Even if the market does not return to pre-recession levels, growth will accelerate during 2011. VDC sees virtually every vertical market growing more than 5 percent, and most technology categories achieving the same 5 percent CAGR.

The embedded market will see more collaboration between CPU, FPGA and GPU technology providers in 2011 as OEMs plan to increasingly develop embedded solutions on hybrid platforms incorporating two or more of these technologies. Less...

Drivers for the COM segment growth include system expansion and application-specific customization capabilities of the technology, and the relatively low power consumption and small form-factor dimensions the technology possesses. More...

Drivers for the COM segment growth include system expansion and application-specific customization capabilities of the technology, and the relatively low power consumption and small form-factor dimensions the technology possesses.

In terms of end-application segments, the transportation sector is forecast to account for almost 1.5 million units in 2014, according to IMS Research. VDR Research noted that the communications infrastructure and military/aerospace segments will continue to demand the superior performance offered by slot architectures for mission-critical communications applications.

Another major application segment for embedded hardware platforms is the communications and networking infrastructure market. According to market analysis from VDC, the communications infrastructure market experienced stabilization in 2010 following the downturn in 2009. About 75 percent of the respondents to the firm’s survey expect a year-over-year increase in embedded hardware spending for 2011 and 72 percent expected a spending increase in 2012.

A major driver for the increasing spending on embedded hardware in 2011 and 2012 will be the rollout of new 4G networks.

Newer applications such as digital signage, infotainment, digital surveillance/security, and energy/power will become the high growth areas across a number of verticals. Less...

One of the key emerging applications is the Scalable Edge Node (SEN): A new user/customer class—the IT end-user—will force embedded platform suppliers to develop new tools and channels in order to successfully deploy SENs. SENs are dense, flexible hardware platforms that reside on the edges of networks—enterprise, factory, laboratory, retail floor. More...

One of the key emerging applications is the Scalable Edge Node (SEN): A new user/customer class—the IT end-user—will force embedded platform suppliers to develop new tools and channels in order to successfully deploy SENs. SENs are dense, flexible hardware platforms that reside on the edges of networks—enterprise, factory, laboratory, retail floor.

Various types of networking technologies are increasingly being applied in embedded systems development. At the same time, new system designs are expected to be more energy efficient.

In terms of software, more application classes will have sophisticated user interface functionality that is not supported by traditional Oss, leading end-users to seek out multi-OS systems.

Another major trend, according to VDC, is the continued incorporation of more complex, capable, and portable human machine interface functionality into new and existing systems to provide operators with more control and real-time visibility over system function. Higher performance processing still drive growth in medical imaging, 4G communications, analytics, and robust military digital security applications. Less...