Android OS as an embedded platform

More recently however, a new breed of embedded technology is emerging using customized versions of the Android operating system. At first blush, Android may sound like an odd choice as an embedded OS, but in fact Android is already an embedded OS, its roots stemming from Embedded Linux. Where Android becomes appropriate as an embedded operating system outside of mobile devices is in devices which require a user interface or multimedia capabilities. Android offers several advantages over proprietary embedded operating systems, not the least of which is global familiarity in developing for the platform. Other advantages include a stable kernel, no royalties or licensing fees, and a vast library of open source code and device drivers. All of these things combine to make creating an embedded system more accessible to developers and manufacturers.