What Is Fast Virtual Prototyping?

Fast virtual prototyping creates digital representations of embedded systems that simulate their behavior before physical hardware exists. These virtual models allow engineers to test software, verify system functionality, and explore design alternatives early in the development process.

The technology operates at various abstraction levels—from high-level architectural models to detailed hardware descriptions—giving developers flexibility to focus on specific aspects of system performance. Modern virtual prototyping environments integrate seamlessly with development toolchains, enabling continuous integration and testing throughout the design cycle.

How Virtual Prototyping Accelerates Design Cycles

The traditional embedded systems development approach requires hardware availability before software development can begin in earnest. Virtual prototyping breaks this dependency by creating accurate system models that software teams can use immediately, even while hardware specifications evolve.

This parallel development capability can reduce time-to-market by 20-50% for complex embedded systems. Engineers can validate architectural decisions earlier, identify integration issues before hardware commitment, and optimize system performance through rapid iteration cycles. Virtual prototypes also enable automated testing frameworks that catch bugs earlier when they're less expensive to fix.

Virtual Prototyping Tools Comparison

Several providers offer specialized virtual prototyping solutions with different strengths. Synopsys provides comprehensive virtual prototyping with their Platform Architect and Virtualizer tools, emphasizing performance analysis and software development capabilities. Cadence offers the System Development Suite that integrates virtual prototyping with emulation and FPGA-based prototyping.

Mentor Graphics (now part of Siemens) delivers the Vista Virtual Prototyping solution that specializes in architectural exploration and verification. For open-source alternatives, QEMU provides processor emulation that many developers use for basic virtual prototyping needs.

The table below compares key capabilities across these platforms:

  • Synopsys Platform Architect: Excellent for architectural exploration, strong debugging tools, moderate learning curve
  • Cadence System Development Suite: Comprehensive integration with physical prototyping, advanced power analysis, steeper learning curve
  • Mentor Vista: Strong UML modeling support, efficient for complex SoCs, good documentation
  • QEMU: Free and open-source, extensive processor support, limited system-level analysis, requires programming expertise

Benefits and Limitations of Virtual Prototyping

The advantages of virtual prototyping extend beyond faster development cycles. These digital models enable exploration of design alternatives without manufacturing costs, allowing engineers to optimize power consumption, performance, and thermal characteristics. Virtual prototypes also facilitate collaboration between hardware and software teams by providing a common reference model.

However, virtual prototyping does have limitations. Creating accurate models requires expertise and initial investment in tool infrastructure. Simulation speed can be a challenge for complex systems—virtual prototypes typically run slower than real hardware. Additionally, some physical-world behaviors remain difficult to model accurately, such as precise timing interactions or analog components.

Despite these limitations, the Arm ecosystem has embraced virtual prototyping through initiatives like Fast Models, which provide accurate processor simulations. Similarly, Intel supports virtual prototyping through their Simics platform for system-level simulation.

Implementation Strategies for Successful Adoption

Implementing virtual prototyping effectively requires strategic planning. Start with clearly defined objectives—whether accelerating software development, exploring architectural alternatives, or validating system behavior. Then select tools that align with these goals and your team's expertise level.

Begin with simplified models that capture essential system behavior before adding complexity. This incremental approach yields faster benefits while building team expertise. Integrate virtual prototyping into your continuous integration pipeline to maximize testing automation benefits.

Xilinx (now part of AMD) recommends a hybrid approach combining virtual prototyping with FPGA-based prototyping for optimal results. STMicroelectronics similarly advocates for multi-level prototyping strategies that leverage both virtual and physical models at different development stages.

Conclusion

Fast virtual prototyping has become an indispensable methodology for embedded computing systems design and exploration. By enabling parallel hardware-software development, facilitating early verification, and supporting comprehensive design space exploration, virtual prototyping addresses the increasing complexity and time-to-market pressures facing embedded system developers. While implementation requires initial investment in tools and expertise, the long-term benefits in development efficiency, product quality, and innovation potential make virtual prototyping a strategic advantage for organizations developing embedded computing systems. As simulation technologies continue to advance, we can expect virtual prototyping to become even more powerful and accessible to development teams of all sizes.

Citations

This content was written by AI and reviewed by a human for quality and compliance.