Anti-theft device for machines: Protection of the embedded software from product piracy

Embedded systems operate invisibly in the background in the most varied devices around the clock at work or at home whether in production plants, pacemakers or cars. Using a car as an example, no drive takes place without these embedded systems: They control wipers, ESP, infotainment systems, cruise controls, brakes or help in parking. In the industry, they are put into robots, devices or machines. Approximately 98 percent of all produced chips are built into embedded systems. The strong prevalence poses new question as how companies can protect their knowhow which is put into the embedded software as part of the embedded systems?