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Real-time operating system (RTOS)

An operating system is a computer program that supports a computer’s basic functions, and provides services to other programs (or applications) that run on the computer. The applications provide the functionality that the user of the computer wants or needs. The services provided by the operating system make writing the applications faster, simpler, and more maintainable.

 

Most operating systems appear to allow multiple programs to execute at the same time. This is called multi-tasking. In reality, each processor core can only be running a single thread of execution at any given point in time. A part of the operating system called the scheduler is responsible for deciding which program to run when, and provides the illusion of simultaneous execution by rapidly switching between each program.

 

The type of an operating system is defined by how the scheduler decides which program to run when. For example, the scheduler used in a multi user operating system (such as Unix) will ensure each user gets a fair amount of the processing time. As another example, the scheduler in a desk top operating system (such as Windows) will try and ensure the computer remains responsive to its user. These are examples of  “general” in general-purpose OS means the OS must fulfill many goals such as providing a good end-user experience, supporting different types of programs and hardware, and providing capabilities like customization options. GPOS’s tend to work in concert with processors where each core runs a single thread of execution at a time.

 

The scheduler in a Real Time Operating System (RTOS) is designed to provide a predictable (normally described as deterministic) execution pattern. This is particularly of interest to embedded systems as embedded systems often have real time requirements. A real time requirements is one that specifies that the embedded system must respond to a certain event within a strictly defined time (the deadline). A guarantee to meet real time requirements can only be made if the behaviour of the operating system’s scheduler can be predicted (and is therefore deterministic).

 

In contrast,  OS’s typically provide a non-deterministic, soft real time response, where there are no guarantees as to when each task will complete, but they will try to stay responsive to the user. The difference between the two can be highlighted through examples – compare, for example, the editing of a document on a PC to the operation of a precision motor control.

 

 

An embedded system has 3 components:

It has the embedded hardware.
It has embedded software program.
It has an actual real-time operating system (RTOS) that supervises the utility software and offer a mechanism to let the processor run a process as in step with scheduling by means of following a plan to manipulate the latencies. RTOS defines the manner the system works. It units the rules throughout the execution of application software. A small scale embedded device won’t have RTOS.

 

A Real Time Operating System, commonly known as an RTOS, is a software component that rapidly switches between tasks, giving the impression that multiple programs are being executed at the same time on a single processing core.

 

In actual fact the processing core can only execute one program at any one time, and what the RTOS is actually doing is rapidly switching between individual programming threads (or Tasks) to give the impression that multiple programs are executing simultaneously.

 

When switching between Tasks the RTOS has to choose the most appropriate task to load next. There are several scheduling algorithms available, including Round Robin, Co-operative and Hybrid scheduling.

 

However, to provide a responsive system most RTOS’s use a pre-emptive scheduling algorithm. In a pre-emptive system each Task is given an individual priority value. The faster the required response, the higher the priority level assigned. When working in pre-emptive mode, the task chosen to execute is the highest priority task that is able to execute. This results in a highly responsive system.

 

The RTOS scheduling algorithm, interrupt latency and context switch times will significantly define the responsiveness and determinism of the system. The most important consideration is what type of response is desired – Is a hard real time response required? This means that there are precisely defined deadlines that, if not met, will cause the system to fail. Alternatively, would a non-deterministic, soft real time response be appropriate? In which case there are no guarantees as to when each task will complete.

 

Micro kernels use minimum system resources and provide limited but essential task scheduling functionality. Micro kernels generally deliver a hard real time response, and are used extensively with embedded microprocessors with limited RAM/ROM capacity, but can also be appropriate for larger embedded processor systems.

 

FreeRTOS is a class of RTOS that is designed to be small enough to run on a microcontroller – although its use is not limited to microcontroller applications. A microcontroller is a small and resource constrained processor that incorporates, on a single chip, the processor itself, read only memory (ROM or Flash) to hold the program to be executed, and the random access memory (RAM) needed by the programs it executes. Typically the program is executed directly from the read only memory.

 

FreeRTOS therefore provides the core real time scheduling functionality, inter-task communication, timing and synchronisation primitives only. This means it is more accurately described as a real time kernel, or real time executive. Additional functionality, such as a command console interface, or networking stacks, can then be included with add-on components.

 

Alternatively, a full featured OS like Linux or WinCE could be used. These provide a feature rich operating system environment, normally supplied with drivers, GUI’s and middleware components. Full featured OS’s are generally less responsive, require more memory and more processing power than micro kernels, and are mainly used on powerful embedded processors where system resources are plentiful.

 

Powerful on-chip features, like data and instruction caches, programmable bus interfaces and higher clock frequencies, speed up performance significantly and simplify system design. These hardware fundamentals allow Real-time Operating Systems (RTOS) to be implemented, which leads to the rapid increase of total system performance and functional complexity.

 

he choice of RTOS can greatly affect the development of the design. By selecting an appropriate RTOS the developer gains:

  • A Task based design that enhances modularity, simplifies testing and encourages code reuse;
  • An environment that makes it easier for engineering teams to develop together;
  • Abstraction of timing behaviour from functional behaviour, which should result in smaller code size and more efficient use of available resources.

 

Peripheral support, memory usage and real-time capability are key features that govern the suitability of the RTOS. Using the wrong RTOS, particularly one that does not provide sufficient real time capability, will severely compromise the design and viability of the final product.

 

Pre-certified and certifiable RTOS’s are available for applications that require certification to international design standards such as DO-178C and IEC 61508. These RTOS’s provide key safety features, and the design evidence required by certification bodies to confirm that the process used to develop the RTOS meets the relevant design standard.

 

 

References and Resources also include:

https://www.highintegritysystems.com/rtos/what-is-an-rtos/

About Rajesh Uppal

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