Is This the ‘ChatGPT Moment’ for Embedded Systems?

In the world of embedded systems design, engineers tend to either be really good with hardware or really good with software. Sure, there are some people with wizard-level skills in both areas, but by and large, one area or the other tends to be a weak point for most. If that sounds like you, then you know that this can be a big drag on productivity when you are running with a solo project in your spare time.

A company called Palpable is trying to level the playing field with a new tool that simplifies the design of embedded systems. It essentially does what AI coding models have done for pure software engineering to hardware projects. All a user of Palpable has to do is plug some hardware modules together, then explain what they would like them to do in plain language. Palpable will then automatically detect the hardware, determine how to interface with it, and write firmware that matches the user’s request.

There are limits, of course. At present, Palpable supports 76 Qwiic-compatible modules across 12 categories. These categories include displays, sensors, and other common components. It is noted that more modules are being added all the time; however you can expect spotty support at this time.

Exactly how well does Palpable work? That remains to be seen — you’ll have to join a waitlist until you can have a crack at it yourself. But if it offers assistance similar to what we have come to expect from AI coding assistants, we should anticipate getting a productivity boost from this tool. You probably shouldn’t let your guard down too much, though. You should expect that you’ll need to verify that the firmware really does what you asked for before you ship, despite the advertised “connect, describe, ship” workflow.

If you’d like to claim a spot on the waitlist, you can sign up at Palpable.