An embedded system is a computer system with a dedicated function in a larger structure. Lots of devices have them like Xbox’s, Playstation’s, calculators, mobile phones and printers.
Modern embedded systems are often the microcontrollers but some are ordinary microprocessors. These embedded systems when compared to general-purpose counterparts have a lower power consumption, small size, bigger operating ranges and are a lot cheaper. This makes them very useful. 98% of all microproccessors are used for embedded systems, that is a lot. Most embedded systems are expected to run for years without error and sometimes can fix themselves but some systems can fail to shut down or the system will lose a lot of memory if it is powered-off.
Here is a picture of devices with embedded systems:
In a satellite the embedded system controls the thermal level but in a mobile phone an embedded system controls the Wi-Fi and GPS system. In a TV the embedded system controls the set chip and in a car controls the Anti-Lock Brakes, navigation system, air bags, radio, drive by wire and cruise control. A ECU, which stands for engine control unit, is used in cars. It controls actualors inside a internal combustion engine to provide the optimal performance. In a plane it controls ailerons along with other things and a MRI scan uses magnetic resonance imaging controlled by an embedded system.
As you can see embedded systems do a lot and are basically small computers and cut down the cost which is good and most things would be heavier and worse without embedded systems.
Computer Science Studies 