Remote Programming and Reconfiguration System for Embedded Devices

Abstract

This article presents a concept of a system which can be utilized as a remote management add-on for embedded devices. It can be applied to resource-constrained wireless sensors and IoT nodes based on a general purpose microcontroller unit or a field programmable gate array (FPGA) chip. The proposed solution facilitates remote firmware update, management, and operation monitoring. Thanks to the utilization of standard protocols and interfaces, the proposed system is very flexible and it can be easily customized for multiple modern microcontrollers or programmable logic chips. The presented system can be an efficient solution for fast prototyping and it can be an alternative to a time-consuming process of bootloader development for ad hoc devices. It can also be applied to remote laboratory access for educational purposes. A proof of concept prototype implementation has been successfully developed and evaluated. The implementation is available on a free license and utilizes a commonly available and inexpensive hardware platform.