Embedded Science: Embedded Systems Testing - Delta-T Probe

• The DELTA-T Probe is specifically designed to answer the two questions that determine Embedded Systems compliance. It will:
  • verify the presence of time and date information within an embedded system, and
  • capture the relevant code to allow the method of time and date comparison being used by the system [to be recorded].
• Read their F.A.Q. on embedded Y2K problems.

Century Corp. (Centurycorp) -   Y2K Embedded System Solutions

• Century Corporation specializes in three distinct areas: Year 2000 assessment and testing, code analysis and device remediation and Y2K enterprise risk assessment and mitigation. Many of the solutions applied are developed in-house by our veteran developers and are not available on the market.
• Checklists - Insurance, Building Systems, Transportation
• PROBE 2000 - "A sophisticated tool that attaches to embedded devices and has special purpose software to assist in the capture and analysis of real time clocks and embedded code."

TAVA Technologies

• TAVA Technologies, Inc. is a leading independent provider of business and information technology solutions to process and manufacturing industries. TAVA’s core practice foundation and geographic reach, coupled with our client base of Fortune 500 companies, positions us as an industry leader and long-term industrial information technology partner.
• Plant Y2KOne - Most plant floor systems are complex combinations of hardware and software from a variety of vendors. The only approach that guarantees a smooth transition into the next millennium is a component by component analysis of all micro-processor based functions. Plant Y2kOne is a full-service suite of resources to support this major effort
• Plant Y2k (PDF)- "Plant Y2k: A White Paper that Discusses the Significance of the Effect of the Millennium Bug (Y2k) on Process Control, Factory Automation & Embedded Systems in Manufacturing Companies"
• General Motor's Year 2000 Test Procedures (PDF)

Infrastrucure Control Services (ICS)

• ICS have completed or are completing Year 2000 projects in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, ACT and Northern Territory. We are also working internationally in 18 countries, including Europe and Asia
• The Embedded Systems inventory needs to be compiled by engineers who are professionally qualified and experienced to deal with Embedded Systems (ie suitable engineers), working in parallel with client representatives.
• At present, the Knowledge Database identifies problems encountered during Year 2000 projects for many brand names of about 60,000 different categories of plant, equipment, business and control systems that have been identified as having Year 2000 problems. Many of these problems just create "nuisance level" problems; others are business critical

Booz, Allen for The Year 2000

• Booz, Allen's Non-IT Facilities Infrastructure Y2K Compliance Booz·Allen is helping organizations navigate through the unfamiliar territory of Year 2000 compliance and preparedness. We are ensuring that disruptions to mission-critical building operating systems and equipment will be eliminated or minimized.

Utilistar, Inc. (USSI)

• A technical services company specializing in engineering and scientific applications of computers, and computer-based or enabled technologies. "The challenges that our clients face to ensure uninterrupted operation through, and beyond, the millennium change are immense. We are exceptionally qualified to offer both risk assessment and renovation services for their process monitoring and control systems and those less-visible "embedded" systems that can shut down an operation just as easily. Fossil and co-gen power generation, Petrochemical, Refining, Pulp and Paper, Manufacturing, Marine, Environmental.
• Embedded systems may actually pose a greater threat than the better-known IT systems for four reasons:
  • Their presence can be hard to detect, even by the technically knowledgeable.
  • With a somewhat longer lifetime than IT systems, the devices may be older and less likely to be Y2K compliant.
  • They are often in continuous operation, and are more likely to be active during the date transition.
  • Intervals may be of more concern in an embedded system than absolute dates. A system that performs a task every two weeks, for instance, may not reveal any problems with Y2K compliance for that amount of time after the date transition.
  • Y2K Pages: Inventory | Assessment | Renovation | Validation Utilistar Specialties::  Additional Benefits | Embedded Systems

EMA Services, Inc.

• Year 2000 is quickly approaching, and the problems it is bringing will transcend industry and utilities alike. If you have checked your business systems and they are all compliant, is that sufficient? What about your embedded automation and process control systems? There are many components embedded in your automation chain that will be affected when computer "clocks" that recognize only the last two digits of a year will assume 2000 means 1900. Process control automation systems also have potential problems--they are just not as obvious. And there are other considerations.

AEA Technology

• Year 2000 Management of Embedded, Safety-Critical Software from AEA Technology The objective of AEA Technology's Year 2000 Risk Management Strategy is to provide a 'without-the-hype' view of the problems associated with century (and other) date changes in IT systems and to aid in the implementation of practical, cost-effective solutions.

BSC Consulting - y2k - Embedded Systems - Consequences

• While the world's attention is increasingly focused on the problems the Millennium Bug poses to their IT, Networks and Communications systems, a second threat, potentially just as serious as the first, is lying largely unnoticed. Much of the equipment that controls the buildings where people work is governed not by computers as such but by printed circuit boards which contain "embedded microprocessors". These we take for granted will function day in, day out with the minimum of attention. Yet if they fail at the turn of the century, they will bring to a halt work in offices, shops and factories just as surely as if your mainframe or your switchboard were to crash.
• We have developed an investigation system that ensures a first principle approach to identifying and solving problems. This approach is rigorous enough to be used in any litigation but its main aim is to ensure that all factors have been taken into account; even what appears to have been obvious assumptions are questioned and challenged. This approach, which we term Forensic Engineering, has been used successfully on many projects where clients had not been able to solve their problems with previous investigations.

Essp Ltd - Embedded Systems Solution Providers

• Embedded Systems Problem - Background Information - During 1995, more than 200 million PCs were shipped worldwide. In the same period, the number of embedded systems shipped exceeded 3 billion. According to research conducted over the past year, around 5% of simple embedded systems were found to fail Millennium Bug tests. For more sophisticated embedded systems, failure rates of between 50% and 80% have been reported (Action 2000 UK Government Taskforce). In our own experience however we have found it closer to 15%-20% in processor intensive industries.

Vector International - Year 2000 Services

• Vector's role in the Year 2000 Consortium is to specialise in real time and embedded software systems including: Process control systems, plant data management, SCADA, manufacturing automation systems, Building automation, air conditioning control, security, lift control, Communication infrastructure, PABX, radio systems, telemetry Standalone PC or embedded system devices including automatic data collection equipment, medical equipment, microprocessor based measurement technologies, photographic/video recording systems, etc.
• Year 2000 - Embedded software systems paper

ERA Technology Ltd - Home Page - Okay2000 - Introduction

Real Time Engineering Ltd (RTEL)

• Real Time 2000TM is our formalised programme to address the Year 2000 problem as it affects real-time and embedded systems. The problem is just as likely to hit real-time and embedded systems as it is to affect more traditional mainframe or PC applications. The organisations most at risk are those with engineering, manufacturing or production processes, but many more companies make use of embedded systems for heating/ventilation control, PABX/Fax machines, security access, and so on.
• Since its inception in spring of '97, the programme has developed significantly, and is now being delivered to many high-profile multinational organisations. Our work on Real Time 2000TM is taking us to parts of mainland Europe, the Middle East, Malaysia, Japan and Australia, and, of course, to all corners of the UK. Our clients cover many sectors of industry, including aviation, food and drink processing, oil & gas exploration, conventional and nuclear power generation, health service provision, petrochemical refining, paper manufacture and shipping.
• As a result of our work to date, we are regarded as the UK's most knowledgeable company in this arena, and we are spending a considerable amount of time producing published articles, contributing to national committees, and speaking at conferences and seminars on the subject.
• It's fair to say that the Year 2000 problem for real-time and embedded systems is more extensive than we had originally envisaged when we put the programme together. We have gathered a large database of information about compliant and non-compliant systems through our recent efforts, and this is proving to be very valuable for our clients.
• Pharmaceuticals and Fine Chemicals, Aviation, Power, Oil & Gas

The Houndscroft Partnership - Year 2000 (New Company?)

IBM

Roleigh Martin - Year 2000 Embedded Systems Vendors, Associations and Manufacturers

Triaxsys Briefings -- Embedded Technology The Ultimate Year 2000 Challenge (2-4%?)

Year 2000 Institute - Embedded - Biomedical