If your embedded system requires real-time constraints, don't worry! The Linux operating system remains a top choice. With significant advancements in the upstream RT-PREEMPT extension over the past three years, you can now run applications on isolated CPU cores with minimal latency and jitter.
However, some specific use cases—particularly those requiring hard real-time performance in user-space applications—can be tricky. Combining RT and non-RT tasks in the same environment may lead to interference, and implementing non-GPL closed-source code within the kernel only adds to the complexity.
For these challenges, the EVL (Xenomai 4) extension is a powerful alternative to RT-PREEMPT. Here’s why
:
Out-of-Band (OOB) Functions: Guarantee hard real-time conditions across execution paths, ensuring deterministic behavior for critical tasks.
Clean RT/Non-RT Separation: Isolates the real-time domain from standard Linux tasks, minimizing interference.
Scalable Architecture: Works seamlessly on popular ARM-based SoCs, such as Raspberry Pi, NXP, TI platforms, making it versatile for various embedded projects.
Hard Real-Time User-Space Applications: Ideal for scenarios where real-time functionality must remain closed-source without relying on kernel modifications.
Whether you're tackling hard real-time constraints, maintaining user-space applications, or working with ARM-based systems, EVL offers an innovative and reliable solution.
It's definitely worth considering for your next project!