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BAE SYSTEMS Introduces World-Class, Fault-Tolerant RTOS For Safety-Critical Applications

16 Sep 2003

BAE Systems today introduced its second-generation CsLEOSv real-time operating system. Certifiable to DO-178B Level A, CsLEOS provides integrated fault-tolerant and hard real-time capabilities that make it ideal for a wide range of safety-critical military, aerospace, telecommunications, and industrial control applications.

CsLEOS is the first commercial RTOS built from the ground up with a native ARINC-653 interface (no proprietary interface layers), and the first to support independently loadable applications. The native implementation facilitates fast, predictable interaction between applications and the RTOS, while the independently loadable applications reduce test and certification costs by enabling new applications to be built and installed without affecting existing applications. CsLEOS also provides native support for OpenGL graphics, enabling designers to run secure two -and three-dimensional displays on the same processor alongside safety-critical applications.

The first commercial, off-the-shelf ARINC 653 RTOS to fly on flight-critical hardware, CsLEOS underpins the Integrated Vehicle Management System Computer used on the Pegasus X-47A unmanned combat aircraft, which was developed by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Navy. CsLEOS also is deployed on a second-generation flight control computer being designed for the Boeing-built C-17 Globemaster III Air Force transport.

CsLEOS is the only commercially available RTOS developed by a systems company for use in its own safety-critical systems, and the only one backed by a company with more than 400 million operational flight hours on certified systems, said Milan Dedek, CsLEOS product manager at BAE Systems Aerospace Controls. The aerospace industry has traditionally relied on expensive proprietary designs, but is increasingly embracing COTS solutions to reduce development costs and shorten product development times. With its superior pedigree, fault-tolerant architecture, and DO-178B Level A support, CsLEOS is the COTS RTOS of choice for quickly and cost effectively developing, deploying, and maintaining safety-critical systems.

An ARINC-653-compliant, fault-tolerant, hard-real-time operating system, CsLEOS was designed from the ground up for safety- and mission-critical applications that place a premium on security, predictable real-time response, and testability. Utilising hardware memory protection, CsLEOS provides complete time, space, and resource partitioning between the kernel and applications operating on the same hardware platform. It also provides guaranteed resource availability in both the time and space domains. This combination facilitates the robust partitioning defined in ARINC 653, enabling applications with different DO-178B safety levels to run concurrently on the same processor. CsLEOS also supports on-the-fly application rescheduling, giving it the flexibility needed to meet a broad range of dynamic safety-critical applications.

To guarantee fast recovery for time-critical events without compromising system safety, CsLEOS synchronises all redundant channels on a frame-by-frame, lock-step basis, ensuring that all channels process the same data concurrently. In the event of a fault on one of the channels, the RTOS restarts the channel (fast restart) within milliseconds.

To further enhance fault tolerance, CsLEOS provides a built-in health monitor. Unlike approaches that require system responses to be hand-coded into the application, CsLEOS allows developers to define their applications, responses to faults and store them separately in configuration tables. This approach enhances flexibility and guarantees that faults will be resolved reliably and in a timely fashion.

To streamline application development, upgrades, and D0-178B certification, CsLEOS supports independent loading of application modules. Unlike approaches in which a portion of the kernel must be linked to each application, CsLEOS interacts exclusively with applications through its Applications Programming Interface. This enables existing applications to be modified and new applications to be built and installed without the entire system having to be recompiled and rebuilt. This flexibility makes the system less expensive to test, certify, and maintain, greatly reducing life-cycle costs.

CsLEOS provides industry-standard OpenGL graphics drivers that make it easy to develop sophisticated 3-D man-machine interfaces for mission-critical applications such as synthetic vision systems that allow aircraft to land in adverse weather. Moreover, the systems graphics drivers do not require a separate host processor, but run on the same hardware platform with safety-critical flight applications without interfering with them. This not only reduces cost, but facilitates a single-processor integrated solution that simplifies new development and upward migration.

BAE Systems supports a wide variety of third-party development tools, including DDC-Is SCORE653 RTOS-aware integrated development environment. The company also has signed an agreement with Dy 4 Systems to offer the RTOS on its PowerPC single-board computers, which are optimised for applications that demand adherence to rigid safety standards.

Development seats for the CsLEOS RTOS are available beginning at $50,000. More information about the product can be obtained by visiting www.csleos.com or calling 1-800-295-3530.

About BAE SYSTEMS:

BAE Systems is an international company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced defence and aerospace systems in the air, on land, at sea and in space. The company designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics and guided weapon systems. It is a pioneer in technology with a heritage stretching back hundreds of years. It is at the forefront of innovation, working to develop the next generation of intelligent defence systems.

BAE Systems has major operations across five continents and customers in some 130 countries. The company has more than 90,000 people and generates annual sales of approximately 12 billion through its wholly-owned and joint venture operations.

BAE Systems North America is a high-technology U.S. company employing more than 25, 000 people who live and work in some 30 states, the District of Columbia, and the United Kingdom. The company is dedicated to solving its customers, needs with highly innovative and leading-edge solutions across the defense electronics, systems, information technology, and services arenas.

BAE Systems Aerospace Controls is a unit of the North American Platform Solutions Sector, a leading global supplier of integrated electronic control products, subsystems, and man-machine interface systems for air, space, sea, and ground vehicles. The sector develops and produces electronic vehicle management systems, electronic engine controls, cockpit and helmet displays, and inertial systems for a variety of platforms including fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, missiles, ground vehicles, ships, and space launch vehicles. Based in Johnson City, New York, it employs approximately 6,400 people at 12 facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom.

BAE Systems, innovating for a safer world.