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RTOS

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An embedded operating system (OS) or Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) is a multitasking operating system intended for real-time applications and designed to be very compact and efficient, forsaking many functions that non-embedded computer operating systems provide. It facilitates the creation of a real-time system, but does not guarantee the final result will be real-time; this requires correct development of the software. An embedded OS or RTOS provides facilities which, if used properly, guarantee deadlines can be met generally (soft real-time) or deterministically (hard real-time). It is valued more for how quickly or predictably it can respond to a particular event than for the amount of work it can perform over a given period of time. Such applications in embedded systems include point-of-sale (PoS) terminals, household appliance controllers, medical monitoring equipment and automotive controls.

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Additional Articles
  

01

Rise of the multi-OS

By Glenn Perry (Mentor Graphics)
Multiple OS deployment is taking off in asymmetric multiprocessing systems.

01

RTOS: Cars, cores, and clouds

By Sebastien Marineau-Mes (QNX Software Systems)
Embedded devices are progressively becoming access points to cloud services.

03

Cellular networks do more than voice

By Michael Day, PhD (ADC)
It's easy to overlook, but it's not news that cellular wireless networks carry data traffic nicely, and that is exactly what many industrial applications need when operating over a wide geographic range.

'EAL 6+' says it all – or does it? Q&A with Marc Brown, Vice President, VxWorks Product Strategy and Marketing for Wind River Systems

By Military Embedded Systems magazine
Editor's note: To be or not to be … EAL 6+ certified: That is the question. Apologies to William Shakespeare, but you get the point. With EAL 6 (or 6+) certification becoming the latest trend among embedded software vendors, the criteria for achieving such should be fairly straightforward … or is it? Marc Brown, VP over VxWorks Product Strategy and Marketing at Wind River Systems, reveals what he claims are misassumptions about EAL 6+, as the company’s VxWorks MILS Platform 2.0 undergoes NSA/NIAP evaluation for EAL 6+ compliance. He also has a thing or two to say about the company’s recent acquision by Intel, multicore, and a clarified focus for the future. Edited excerpts follow.

01

White Paper: Getting Started with Android Development for Embedded Systems

By Colin Walls (Mentor Graphics Corporation)
This paper takes a look at the design of Android, how it works, and how it may be deployed to accelerate the development of a connected device.

01

White Paper: How Multicore Enables the Fast and Efficient Deployment of Multi-OS Systems

By Dan Driscoll and (Mentor Graphics Corporation) and Stephen Olsen (Mentor Graphics Corporation)
This paper discusses how multicore designs are creating the need for a true multi-OS system. Within this discussion Symmetric Multi-Processing (SMP), Asymmetric Multi-Processing (AMP), multicore hardware and software, development tools, and actual use cases will be covered.

White Paper: Finding the Fastest Path to 4G: Reducing Time-to-Market for Wireless Infrastructure

By Nikhil Chauhan (Wind River Systems, Inc.)
This paper describes the challenges faced by network equipment providers (NEPs) and operators to meet the market requirements for 4G networks. It defines the required development strategies, enabled by embedded computing platforms, that address these challenges.

White Paper: File System Considerations in a Multi-Core RTOS Environment

By Ron Driscoll (Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing) and Robert Krantz (Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing)
Multi-core processing is rapidly becoming a necessity in embedded computing with the convergence of two conflicting trends: Demand for high density storage and a requirement for ever smaller footprint. In order to address this demand for increased storage and smaller real estate, manufacturers are turning to MLC NAND in droves. Some consumers refuse to pay the penalty in performance that often accompanies the complex error correction required for MLC's multi-bit architecture. With multi-core configurations consisting of dual core CPUs that share all local board resources, embedded single board computers are able to offset this performance hit. Another advantage of this configuration is that an extra CPU is supplied without duplicating any of the peripheral hardware. These cores often share main memory, Flash memory, busses/interconnects, bridges, and endpoint devices. Since Flash memory banks are available with large storage capacity, using Flash to store a file system has become increasingly popular with embedded software to log large amounts of data or store complete sets of maps, etc. For software, the question becomes; How can you divide ownership and control access to devices and avoid the undesired effects of dual simultaneous access?

Allowing for GPOS and RTOS: The unique virtualization needs of mission-critical embedded systems

By Chris Main (TenAsys Corp.)
When hosting multiple heterogenous OSs on one processor chip simultaneously, virtualization is key. Meanwhile, mission-critical virtualization melds RTOSs and GPOSs – and might fold in some legacy applications too.

White Paper: Diagnosing Single Event Effects Using On‐Chip Instrumentation

Boeing and DAFCA
Testing and validating new technology libraries and sophisticated devices has become an increasing challenge as the need for more advanced and complex radiation-hardened semiconductors rises. And diagnosing Single Event Effects (SEEs) can present further dilemmas, especially when Boeing went to test its Radiation Hardened by Design technology on the IBM 90nm process. To the rescue: DAFCA, which provided embedded instrumentation to help in real-time observation and analysis of previously inaccessible device confines.

01

White Paper: Effective Embedded Differentiation with Graphical User Interfaces

By Geoff Kendall (Mentor Graphics Corporation)
This paper discusses the motivations for and potential benefits of switching to LCD-based interfaces, and goes on to describe the challenges facing anyone attempting to deliver a great embedded GUI. This paper concludes with a checklist of things to look for when assessing the merits of the various off-the-shelf GUI software solutions. available today.

02

White Paper: SimTest Simulation: A Powerful Tool for Embedded Software Development

By Ville-Veikko Helppi (Mentor Graphics Corporation)
This paper discusses host-based simulation and introduces two new tools that utilize this type of technology.

02

White Paper: The Promise of M2M: How Pervasive Connected Machines are Fueling the Next Wireless Revolution

By Syed Gilani (Mentor Graphics Corporation)
This paper defines the concept of M2M, cites examples on how M2M is being implemented in various businesses/industries, and discusses how some of the partners in M2M are beginning to offer innovative solutions.

01

White Paper: Nucleus® Kernel Evaluation Overview

By Mentor Graphics (Mentor Graphics Corporation)
Free! Mentor Graphics offers a special Nucleus® Kernel Software Evaluation Kit. Download evaluation kit from the link provided on the first page.

03

PICMG's xTCA meets VME and VPX head-on

By VME and Critical Systems magazine
Editor's note: Just when we think things might be settling down to a predictable level within VME's relatively stable ecosystem, our recent interview with Mark Overgaard, Pigeon Point Systems' founder and president, reveals otherwise. From the heretofore telecommunications-focused company's recent acquisition by Actel to its participation in OpenVPX, things are anything but predictable. Edited excerpts follow.

01

White Paper: Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Intel Atom Processor

By Intel (Intel)
A simple path to true real-time performance. Standards-based devices shorten development time and lower cost. Devices based on the Microsoft Windows® Embedded CE operating system and the very low power Intel® Atom™ processor deliver cost-effective real-time performance. This platform is standards-based, has long life cycle support and runs industry-leading security software, which minimizes compatibility, supply, and security issues.

02

White Paper: Three Proven Techniques for Improving Embedded Software

By Dave Kittinger (Mentor Graphics Corporation)
These days embedded developers are looking for new and cost-efficient methods to maximize the performance of their application while still maintaining a high level of design efficiency. This paper takes a look at three proven methodologies for improved performance through simple code modifications.

02

White Paper: How a Compiler Can Aid Embedded Software Developers

By Pat Wellander (Mentor Graphics Corporation)
When a software developer is acquiring a compiler, a primary consideration is the code quality produced by the compiler.

03

White Paper: Delivering Rich and Customizable User Interfaces for Multimedia-enabled products

By Geoff Kendall (Mentor Graphics Corporation)
In today's increasingly competitive consumer device markets, multimedia-enabled products must offer a user interface (UI) that is both visually compelling and easy to use. But changing an embedded UI can often require a lot of time and work.

Two different realms: RTOS support for safety-critical vs. security-critical systems

By Tim King (LynuxWorks)
Safety- and security-critical system functions are evolving simultaneously. However, the two system types have different yet similar requirements. Thankfully, modern RTOSs are stepping up to meet their respective needs.

Slack scheduling brings 100% resource utilization to safety-critical systems

By Bill Cronk (DDC-I)
Safety-critical RTOSs often utilize time partitioning so that adequate resources are available for time-critical tasks. This can be a very inexact practice, however, when tasks take only a fraction of the reserved CPU time. Slack scheduling is now coming to the rescue, though, offering a more efficient alternative to traditional time-partitioned scheduling.

01

DO-178C will arrive, then drive safety-critical software

Q&A with LDRA technical evangelist Bill StClair, who says DO-178B's upcoming progeny, DO-178C, will drive the safety-critical market in years to come.

02

RTOS platform accelerates multimedia device development

By C.C. Hung (Mentor Graphics Embedded Systems Division)
Developers can use a modular OS platform to handle the complexities of media player hardware.

01

White Paper: Binary Partitioning: Minimize Change Impact, Maximize Reuse

By Matt Diethelm (Senior Software Engineer) (DDC-I, Inc.)
With mission critical software, development teams are tasked with looking for ways to accelerate innovation, improve product value, and lower software change costs. This white paper shows how Deos™, a time and space partitioned RTOS, allows this by providing the ability to decompose the software system into discrete, separately verified, binary re-useable components. In short, Deos provides tools and technologies to help a development team reduce the fear of post deployment changes and improvements that often grip mission critical projects.

01

White Paper: Nucleus: Medical applications

By Todd Brian (Mentor Graphics Corporation)
The selection of a real-time operating system for a medical device is critical. This white paper considers the RTOS functionality and specifications that influence the selection process, addressing performance, reliability, device usability, and compliance with standards and regulations when developing today's medical devices.

01

White Paper: Power Management for Portable Consumer Electronic Devices

By Stephen Olsen (Mentor Graphics Corporation)
This paper covers the basics of reactive power management, as well as the more advanced topic of proactive or predictive power management. System integrators and developers well gain a better understanding of these power management techniques and how these techniques can reduce power consumption.

01

White Paper: User Interface and Graphics Development

By Geoff Kendall (Mentor Graphics Corporation)
The success of any electronic device depends to a large extent on the appeal of the user interface (UI) and how easy the device is to use. This paper looks at a fresh new approach to designing a user interface (UI) and graphics for embedded systems. By identifying common UI functionality and implementing it in a reusable and customizable manner, we can make it far easier for embedded engineers to deliver visually engaging and easy-to-use products.

02

Choosing the right RTOS: A life or death decision

By Colin Walls (Mentor Graphics Embedded Systems Division)
An RTOS product's technical features can determine how safe it will be when used in medical applications.

Top 5 technologies for the warfighter

By Chris A. Ciufo (Editor)
SFFs ... multicore ... secure RTOSs: You probably could guess these would make our Top 5 warfighter technologies list. But some of the others just might surprise you.

06

Case study: Virtualization drives software development for in-orbit satellite constellation

By Ross Dickson (Virtutech)
A privately held startup has just purchased an existing satellite-based network and needs to update the proprietary RTOS running on the in-orbit satellites. As the only provider of voice telephony and data communications for worldwide customers including the U.S. DoD, virtualization becomes key when there's no physical access to the hardware.

SBCs: Convergence or diversity

By Richard Kirk (GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, Inc.)
To the uninitiated, it can seem as if SBCs have become something of a commodity – and to some extent, this is true. Despite an apparent convergence in performance and features, however, variables such as serial switched fabrics, form factor/architecture, I/O, and operating systems can still differentiate one SBC from another.

White Paper: Maximizing Computing Performance Through Deos Slack Scheduling

By Bill Cronk (DDC-I, Inc.)
Stop wasting valuable processing time using a rigid scheduling technique in your safety critical systems. Proven Deos slack scheduling technology allows you to harvest this wasted time providing maximum computing performance without compromising time partitioning guarantees.

01

Trends are good for press, not necessarily for sockets

By Jean J. Labrosse (Micrium)
Designers must make sure that design needs are met before chasing after the next best thing.

01

JPEG2000 cuts delays in digital video distribution

By John Wemekamp (Contributor)
Removing the straitjacket of wired analog distribution, digital distribution is enabling video transmission over long distances at high resolutions while facilitating improved situational awareness.

Migrating legacy applications to multicore: Not as scary as it sounds

By Bill Graham (QNX Software Systems)
Legacy migration to multicore comes with its fair share of challenges, but they can be mitigated successfully when developers divide and conquer, then leverage the right tools for the job.

Rugged SFFs for spaceflight

By Don Dingee (Contributing Editor)
Don Dingee, contributing editor, provides the "411" on small form factor technology for space-oriented applications.

01

White Paper: Switched Ethernet Latency Analysis

By GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, Inc. (GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, Inc.)
Despite its throughput advantages, the latency of Ethernet is unpredictable. In fact, this may be Ethernet’s key shortcoming. The goal of this paper is to discuss aspects that influence latency and how to analyze it.

01

White paper: Carrier Grade Linux: High Service Availability for the Next-Generation Network

By Rob Paterson (Wind River Systems, Inc.)
Know the differences in highly available operating systems – how it impacts total cost and reliability of network equipment. This paper provides a concrete description of carrier grade and its key attributes. It describes how these attributes are evolving to meet the needs of the Next Generation Network.

01

White Paper: Reliable Performance for Heterogeneous Real-Time Systems with Small Code Size

By Bernhard Sputh (Altreonic), Oliver Faust (Altreonic) and Eric Verhulst (Altreonic)
OpenComRTOS is one of the few Real-Time Operating Systems for embedded systems that was developed using formal modeling techniques. The goal was to obtain a proven trustworthy component with a clean architecture which delivers high performance on a wide variety of networked embedded systems, ranging from single processor to distributed systems

Secure virtualization technology can extend the life of legacy systems

By Steve Blackman (LynuxWorks, Inc.)
Virtualization, when combined with security, is extending the lifetime of military legacy systems.

 

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Vendors and Products
 

LynuxWorks, Inc. LynxOS RTOS Family
Real-Time Systems GmbH RTS Hypervisor
Xecom, Inc. MicroRTOS
Aitech Defense Systems M503
TenAsys Corporation INtime Real-Time OS for Windows
TenAsys Corporation iRMX for Windows
eSOL Co., Ltd. eSOL RTOS Suite
Pentek, Inc. RTS 2504
Curtiss-Wright Controls Electronic Systems SCRAMNet GT
Concurrent Computer Corporation RedHawk Linux
Cosateq GmbH & Co. KG SCALE-RT
SYSGO AG PikeOS
DSPCon, Inc. DataFlex-500
Altreonic OpenComRTOS
MPL AG MIP470
L-3 Communications Advanced Products & Design Vigra  Video, Imaging, Graphics
RadiSys Corporation Microware OS-9
Ardence, Inc. Software Streaming
Ardence, Inc. RTX
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Micrium (2)
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AP Labs (3)
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Atego (1)
3DSP (1)
Sicubo (1)
AIM-USA (5)
Miriac (1)
Kontron (4)
03/10/10 08:28

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This page was last modified on 12 February 2010, at 21:40. - Disclaimers - About Embedded Channels