Author | Robert van der Zwan (Netherlands)

Translator | He Mu

COVID-19 and MCU: Uncertain Prospects

How significant is the impact of COVID-19 on the MCU market? Some research firms have fully considered the effects of the pandemic in their forecasts. Considering the state of embedded systems using microcontrollers (MCUs), they believe the MCU market size will decline by 8% to 10%, with a recovery of 4% to 5% in 2021, which is close to the IMF’s predictions. Currently, forecasting the outlook is not easy; for instance, if a second wave of the pandemic occurs, it could completely halt the recovery process. (Source: Allied Market Research, Grand View Research, etc., images from Global Market Insights.)

Figure 1 Global Embedded Market Forecast 2019-2026

ARM is Present in Almost Every Smartphone

In 2010, approximately 95% of smartphones were equipped with processors based on ARM technology. This is not a surprising figure, but it is indeed remarkable! Ten years later, the latest statistics indicate that ARM still holds the vast majority of market share. Why can ARM dominate the market? There are many factors, including the low power consumption of processors, the relatively simple RISC architecture, and the SoC design philosophy that integrates embedded technologies such as imaging, networking, navigation, and cameras on chips. Some believe that Intel relies too much on x86 technology and has not posed a real threat to ARM’s monopoly. (Source: ARM, Stack Overflow, etc.)

Figure 2 Approximately 95% of Smartphones are Equipped with ARM Technology Processors

Airports Severely Affected, Embedded Technologies Have Great Potential

During the COVID-19 pandemic, airports have faced unprecedented blows, with a complete recovery of passenger numbers expected to take about 4 to 5 years. What can airports do during this period? Embedded technologies may help. Aertec Solutions, a Spanish aviation consulting and engineering company, explored many different possibilities, including remote tower control, automatically calculating the safest and most efficient taxi routes for aircraft, and passenger terminal navigation apps. Embedded technologies can not only help airports save costs but also generate new revenue. (Source: Aertec Solutions, Statista, etc.)

Figure 3 Passenger Numbers at European Airports

What are the New Trends in SBC and PLC?

Single-board computers (SBCs) and “aging” programmable logic controllers (PLCs) can be seen as two factions of industrial automation. SBCs like Arduino and Raspberry Pi are much cheaper than Mitsubishi and Siemens’ PLCs; do they have a place in the market? The answer is yes! However, PLCs still hold the leading position. In the coming years, the growth rate of the SBC market will be twice that of PLCs (12% and 6%), yet the expected market size of PLCs in 2025 will still be three times that of SBCs. By 2025, SBCs will reach a market value of $1 billion, while PLCs reached this level as early as 2019. Factory floor managers love the low cost of SBCs, but the maintainability and programmability of PLCs are also very important to them. (Source: Global Market Insights, images from Technavio.)

Figure 4 Global PLC Market Growth Status 2019-2024

New Programming Tools Support Software Engineers’ Career Development According to data from the U.S. Department of Labor, the job prospects for software engineers are promising, with an expected growth of 21% in the number of jobs from 2018 to 2028 (much faster than other professions). Although COVID-19 may have a negative impact, those with a computer science degree need not worry. If engineers want to get ahead of their colleagues (for example, in terms of salary), they should learn to use new programming tools (such as code generation tools) and tools for creating cross-disciplinary engineering teams. (Source: VDC Research, images from the U.S. Department of Labor.)

Figure 5 Composition Ratio of Software Engineer Positions in the U.S. from 2018-2028

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