Toward Requirements for Embedded Systems

Abstract

Context: Embedded System (ES) is a component of a larger system embedded in a product, it is designed to repeatedly perform a specific function, while maintaining its operation under different constraints. For this reason, these systems are highly complex. Therefore, the challenges for effective and efficient development are immense. Many problems are related to mistakes in the requirements engineering phase. Thus, a Requirements Engineering (RE) process is crucial in ES development. Objective: to analyze and understand studies of RE approaches that are used for embedded systems development. Method: We carried out a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) in order to find answers to our questions and better understand the requirements engineering context for ES. Results: We uncovered 92 studies and (1) evidence the benefits to using the studies in requirements engineering activities; (2) we found out the RE phases that are attracting more attention; (3) the main requirements modeling styles used; (4) the types of requirements modelled; (5) we identified 6 embedded systems domain in which requirements engineering is taken into account; (6) the use of tools to support their approaches, and (7) the existing challenges/problems. We also proposed a research agenda.   Conclusions: Hence, in this paper we present a body of knowledge in ER for SE derived from a large-scale SLR. We believe the results will benefit both researchers and practitioners.