User-Customizable ARM-Based SoCs for Next-Generation Embedded Systems

Today’s embedded system developers face unprecedented challenges in their efforts to rapidly deliver competitive products to market. Until recently, most system implementation options have been limited to software-intensive, power-hungry multichip systems or costly SoC ASICs. However, market forces and resource constraints are compounding to make these approaches less viable for many design teams. For ARM-based embedded systems, though, advances in FPGA technology, intellectual property (IP), and design tools have witnessed the emergence of usercustomizable SoCs. These devices not only overcome the shortcomings of traditional approaches, but offer unique and significant advantages for embedded system implementation.