Future Avionics innovations such as software for self-separation, Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS) or improved take-off and landing operations demand highest Safety and Security standards. Real-time operating system hypervisor PikeOS fulfils these requirements and exceeds expectations: Its technological supremacy is based on high multi-core performance, embracing CAST-32A principles, and a unique scheduler approach leading to an improved real-time behaviour.
PikeOS and ELinOS in Avionics & Defense
Flexible & Scalable Software Solution for AFDX® compliant Networks
SYSGO‘s ARINC 664 data network software stack is designed to connect any kind of Avionics end-system to an AFDX-compliant data network. Compared to a complex hardware implementation it is more flexible and customizable to any particular situation. The stack is designed to be executed on standard „Custom-off-the-Shelf“ (COTS) hardware. Due to its flexibility and scalability, it can be used as stand-alone on a simple embedded controller as well as inside a fully fledged end system.
The evolution of graphical performance has delivered ever more complex and user interactive connected devices. In industries that measure product life cycles in decades, new technologies enable new use cases - but also bring new and more complex challenges. We need to have conversations about both traditional ‘graphics use‘ of GPU Compute and AI (Artificial Intelligence) to drive the consolidation of multiple use cases onto complex platforms combining Safety-critical / secure and non-Safety-critical / insecure requirements. The challenge of certifying the devices built is to ensure the Safety and Security of users or passengers, an ever-growing problem for today’s Engineers. How do we ensure a primary flight display running terrain avoidance and synthetic vision is not putting the plane‘s pilot and passengers at risk?
Nowadays, we are used to having entertainment systems in the cabin on long flights, connecting our devices to use E-Mails and other services. These systems have the peculiar need of blocking any entertainment function as soon as a crew member wants use the PA (public address) system. With PikeOS, the Safety part (PA usage) can be executed with the highest priority, enabling the immediate switch to the PA management from any ongoing activity. In addition, thanks to the PikeOS partitioning system, the passenger can securely connect his device and be sure that no other user in the aircraft system can hack or interact with it, as the connection is managed by a separated and secured partition.
How to address Certification for Multi-Core based IMA Platforms
In modern aircrafts, more and more functions traditionally implemented as Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) will be hosted by Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) modules. At the same time new aircraft programs will require new safety functions, information services and comfort features which will also increase the demand for processing performance of IMA modules. This paper addresses certification aspects of multi-core based IMA platforms with the focus on today's technologies and processes. Furthermore, the paper provides an analysis of potential hardware and software related interference channels between partitions running on a multi-core based platform.
SYSGO drives innovation in Avionics & Defense with its Safety and Security certified real-time operating system and hypervisor PikeOS and Linux distribution ELinOS
PikeOS has proven its maturity in many military and civil aircraft vehicles, mission-critical operations and is ready for future unmanned aerial systems (UAS), vehicles (UAV) and other autonomous systems. It embodies the Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) / RTCA DO-297 approach and can be certified up to DO-178C DAL A.
The PikeOS separation kernel itself is small in terms of implementation and its little number of system calls allows comprehensive evaluation and validation. As a matter of fact, PikeOS (4.2.3 Build S5577 x86_64, ARM v7/8) has passed the Common Criteria EAL3+ certification.
