embedded systems

Securing the IoT poses specific challenges which are still only partially solved. These include the often very limited computing, storage, and energy resources of wirelessly connected IoT devices, the high demands on the user-friendliness, as well as the high-cost pressure. Upon this background, the research project PROPHYLAXE (“Providing Physical Layer Security for the Internet of Things”), funded by the BMBF, pursued a novel approach in which the physical properties of the wireless transmission link between two devices are exploited. Based on these properties, cryptographic keys can be generated that are known only to the communicating devices and can be used to secure and authenticate a connection.

The software embedded in technical products has increasingly become the driving force of product innovations. Software has rapidly acquired relevance and complexity, particularly in the areas of industrial and automotive engineering. The development of the software, however, is faced with the often difficult task of integrating the systems into complex technological environments such as cars or production lines which rigid requirements concerning safety and reliability. To cope with these challenges a close collaboration between the developers of various areas of expertise such as mechanical, electrical, and software engineering is indispensable. Particularly the involvement of the software development is a common weak point in many companies. With the Quality Gate Plan this article presents an approach to the project management for the development of software-intensive sys-tems.