Real-time Kernel (RTK) for Safety-Critical Real-time Embedded Systems

Real-time Kernel (RTK) for Safety-Critical Real-time Embedded Systems: Advanced Deterministic Scheduling with QNX and ITEC

When it comes to developing safety-critical real-time embedded systems, achieving deterministic and reliable performance is paramount. The software kernel plays a crucial role in ensuring that these systems meet stringent timing, safety, and security requirements. At ITEC, in partnership with QNX, we offer advanced Real-time Kernel (RTK) solutions designed specifically for safety-critical applications that demand the highest levels of performance and predictability.

Integrating Development, Simulation, and Scheduling for Optimal Performance

Our RTK solutions leverage a tightly integrated development toolchain combined with powerful simulation capabilities and formal methods to deliver unmatched determinism and efficiency. The core of this approach is a small footprint, time and space partitioned kernel with a time-triggered architecture model. This design enables the automatic deployment of the optimal deterministic scheduling policy tailored to any real-time application, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming manual fine-tuning.

Automation of Multicore Embedded Software Implementation

Software integration on modern multicore hardware platforms often requires extensive empirical tuning and micro-design efforts to achieve the desired real-time behavior. Our RTK solution streamlines this integration phase by automating the scheduling and resource allocation process, ensuring deterministic operation by construction. This results in a significantly reduced development cycle and increased confidence in system safety and reliability.

Key Benefits of Our RTK Solution

• Optimal Real-Time Scheduling: Generate the best deterministic scheduling policy for your application within minutes.
• Multicore Support: Seamlessly target multicore platforms with the same ease as single-core CPUs.
• Guaranteed Determinism: The kernel architecture ensures timing determinism by design.
• Safety and Security Evidence: Strong guarantees backed by formal calculations support certification efforts.
• Temporal Behavior Validation: Simulate system timing and behavior early and continuously during development.

Visualizing the RTK Workflow

The RTK development flow integrates modeling, simulation, scheduling generation, and deployment in a unified process, providing developers with clear insights and control over system timing and safety.

Leveraging the power of QNX's proven real-time operating system technologies alongside ITEC’s expertise, our RTK solutions empower you to build robust, safe, and efficient real-time embedded systems with confidence.

For more information, feel free to contact us today.