A modular embedded controller, comprising: an enclosure with a first external interface; a generic motherboard with a supervisory processor and a plurality of daughterboard seats (110,126) supported in the enclosure; an external device-specific input/output, I/O, daughterboard supported in one of the daughterboard seats and connecting the external interface with the motherboard supervisory processor, wherein the I/O daughterboard has an I/O processor adapted to translate data communicated between the motherboard supervisory processor and a device connected to the external interface; and characterised by: the modular embedded controller comprising six daughterboard seats (114, 118, 122, 126, 128, 130) mounting three I/O daughterboards (112, 132, 134), a power supply daughterboard, a prognostic health monitoring, PHM, daughterboard, and a communication daughterboard, the enclosure including a PHM external interface configured for connection to a PHM device; a data switch supported on the motherboard and disposed in communication with the motherboard supervisory processor. the PHM daughterboard being in communication with the data switch and the PHM external interface, wherein the prognostic health monitoring daughterboard is adapted to place the supervisory processor in data communication with the PHM device through the data switch to provide PHM data to the supervisory processor. an enclosure with a first external interface; a generic motherboard with a supervisory processor and a plurality of daughterboard seats (110,126) supported in the enclosure; an external device-specific input/output, I/O, daughterboard supported in one of the daughterboard seats and connecting the external interface with the motherboard supervisory processor, wherein the I/O daughterboard has an I/O processor adapted to translate data communicated between the motherboard supervisory processor and a device connected to the external interface; and characterised by: the modular embedded controller comprising six daughterboard seats (114, 118, 122, 126, 128, 130) mounting three I/O daughterboards (112, 132, 134), a power supply daughterboard, a prognostic health monitoring, PHM, daughterboard, and a communication daughterboard, the enclosure including a PHM external interface configured for connection to a PHM device; a data switch supported on the motherboard and disposed in communication with the motherboard supervisory processor. the PHM daughterboard being in communication with the data switch and the PHM external interface, wherein the prognostic health monitoring daughterboard is adapted to place the supervisory processor in data communication with the PHM device through the data switch to provide PHM data to the supervisory processor. the modular embedded controller comprising six daughterboard seats (114, 118, 122, 126, 128, 130) mounting three I/O daughterboards (112, 132, 134), a power supply daughterboard, a prognostic health monitoring, PHM, daughterboard, and a communication daughterboard, the enclosure including a PHM external interface configured for connection to a PHM device; a data switch supported on the motherboard and disposed in communication with the motherboard supervisory processor. the PHM daughterboard being in communication with the data switch and the PHM external interface, wherein the prognostic health monitoring daughterboard is adapted to place the supervisory processor in data communication with the PHM device through the data switch to provide PHM data to the supervisory processor.