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Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS)

Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) Image (View Larger Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) Image)
All major vendors of Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) support ARM architecture.

Many embedded systems require software to respond to inputs and events within a defined short period. Such systems can be categorized as hard real-time, where missing a response deadline is unacceptable (for example an anti-lock braking system), and soft real-time, where hitting a deadline is desirable but not critical. In both types of system, a degree of determinism is important.

RTOS is designed to control an embedded system and deliver the real-time responsiveness and determinism required by the controlled device. Applications run under the control of the RTOS, which schedules allocated CPU time.

In modern systems, a RTOS consists not only of a real-time kernel, but also higher-level functions such as device management (USB, UART, Ethernet, LCD, etc.), file systems, protocol stacks (CAN, TCP/IP, HTTP, etc.) and graphical user interfaces (GUI).

See the "RTOS vendors" tab below to see a table of ARM Connected Community Partners whose RTOS support the ARM architecture.

 
 


The ARM architecture is particularly well suited to the real-time and deterministic requirements of embedded systems, and the implementation of RTOS running on those systems:
  • Small code footprint, allowing an RTOS to run from onboard memory
  • Fast interrupt response to reduce context switching overhead
  • Semaphore support via exclusive load-and-store instructions
  • SVC instructions and exceptions to support privileged state operation for the RTOS kernel
  • Separate stack pointers for each processor mode for easier memory management
  • Sleep modes to minimize power consumption

Whatever your application, you are sure to find a comprehensive list of RTOS vendors who support the ARM architecture.


The ARM architecture is supported by all popular RTOS vendors in the embedded market. Below is a table showing the RTOS companies, their products, and an indication of which ARM processor families they currently support:

 

Company RTOS Cortex- Classic
A R M ARM11 ARM9 ARM7
Altreonic OpenComRTOS
American Megatrends MegaRAC
AVIX-RT AVIX
B Labs Codezero Embedded Hypervisor
CMX Systems CMX-RTX

Code Time Technologies Code Time RTOS
CooCox CooCox CoOS
Dalian uLoong μTenux Open Source Embedded OS
DDC-I Inc HeartOS
eCosCentric eCos
eForce µC3
ENEA OSE
eSOL eT-kernel, PrKERNEL
Evidence SRL ERIKA Enterprise (OSEK)
Express Logic ThreadX
FreeRTOS.org FreeRTOS
Green Hills Software INTEGRITY, VelOSity
Hopen Software Eng Co Ltd Hopen RTOS
HYCTRON Electronic Ltd Embedded OS
KADAK AMX RTOS
Keil Keil RTX
LynuxWorks LynxOS, Blue Cat
Mentor Graphics Nucleus ReadyStart
Micrium µC/OS-III
Micro Digital Inc SMX RTOS
OBP Research ReaGOS
OpenSynergy GmbH COQOS
Pengutronix OSELAS
Phoenix Technologies HyperSpace
QNX Software Systems Neutrino
Quadros Systems RTXC Quadros
Quantum Leaps QP-nano
Radisys Microware OS-9
RISC OS Ltd RISC OS
Rowebots Unison v4
rt-labs AB rt-kernel
RT-Thread.org RT-Thread RTOS
SCIOPTA SCIOPTA
Segger EmbOS
Sierraware SierraOS
Semihalf FreeBSD
SYSGO PikeOS
Umicos Catapult RTOS
Unicoi Systems Fusion RTOS
Wind River VxWorks
Wittenstein OpenRTOS, SafeRTOS

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