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Product category: Embedded Software and Operating Systems
News Release from: Green Hills Software | Subject: Integrity for Industrial PowerQUICC
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 15 November 2007

SIL3-certified RTOS runs on Industrial
PowerQUICC

Combined solution helps deliver safe, reliable, independent execution and containment of the networking and communications needs of end devices in harsh environments.

The TUV-certified Integrity RTOS from Green Hills Software is now available for Freescale's MPC8360-based Industrial PowerQUICC platform (MPC8360E-RDK) The proprietary protection architecture of Integrity, coupled with the PowerQUICC II Pro processor's memory management unit (MMU) and advanced communications support, helps to shorten the time and effort required for device safety certification

The technology solution helps deliver safe, reliable, independent execution and containment of the networking and communications needs of end devices in harsh environments such as industrial manufacturing, power systems, health care facilities and transportation systems.

"Freescale is pleased to offer its customers the industry's only commercially available SIL3-certified operating system for use with our Industrial PowerQUICC platform".

"This proven RTOS from Green Hills represents a welcome expansion of tools and operating systems for this solution", says Donna Imam, Industrial Segment Business Development Manager for Freescale's Networking and Computing Systems Group.

"This addition is key to providing our customers the ability to configure and execute a wide range of communications needs on a single OS/processor combination that helps shorten design cycles, increase system reliability and reduce device per-unit costs".

Integrity's separation architecture allows customers the flexibility to run multiple protocols as separate, independent applications, while eliminating the need to certify these protocols by running them in their own protected address space - outside of the critical safety-rated sections of the system.

In essence, with the innovative secure partitioning capability of Integrity, software - from non-safety-related to safety critical - can be partitioned on a single processor.

Each partition can then be certified at its appropriate Safety Integrity Level, eliminating the need for separate physical systems or to certify code beyond the required safety level.

The Integrity safety-certified RTOS as part of the Green Hills Software Platform for Industrial Safety delivers the following components: the Integrity and Velosity real-time operating systems, with certification by TUV to IEC EN61508 standard at Safety Integrity Level 3 (SIL3); safety manual; SIL3 certification certificate; SIL3 certification report; and a Multi Confidence-from-Use report (optional).

Optional products and services are: middleware to support TCP/IP networking, Wi-Fi, USB, graphics, databases and more; fieldbus support for EtherNet/IP, IEEE1588, Profinet and more; the micro-Velosity real-time operating system - providing industry leading performance, minimal memory (less than 1.6Kbyte) and power-saving footprint for resource-constrained and cost-sensitive devices; the Multi integrated development environment and TimeMachine tool suite - providing the industry leading tool set for embedded software developers; Green Hills C/C++ and Misra C compilers - generating the fastest and smallest code in the industry; the Green Hills Probe - providing reliable and efficient debugging using the microprocessor's JTAG port; end-product certification assistance; board support package (BSP) development and certification assistance; and on-site audit preparation and support.

Freescale's Industrial PowerQUICC platform was created in response to the needs of design engineers tasked with incorporating a diverse set of industrial protocols while managing per-unit device cost and system safety.

To help customers shorten time to revenue, the solution is provided in an industry-standard computer on module (COM) Express format.

This platform provides the ability to evaluate both control and communications protocols for the industrial market.

The platform highlights the capabilities of MPC83xx PowerQUICC processors for applications that require high-performance connectivity and determinism.

It supports graphics and touch screen capabilities in addition to popular interfaces such as Ethernet, 64bit PCI controllers, UARTs, integrated security engine, USB, SPI, I2C and (GPIO) pins.

The solution is an excellent choice for providing deterministic, reliable network operation in harsh environments such as industrial manufacturing plants, health care facilities and transportation systems.

"Developing and deploying software for devices in these markets is a time-consuming and expensive process", says Dan Mender, Director Business Development, Green Hills Software.

"Freescale's programmable PowerQUICC communications processors when combined with the safety-certified Integrity separation kernel, provide a foundation for independent execution of deterministic, reliable networking support with high performance and the ability to reduce device chip count".

The Green Hills SIL3-certified Integrity RTOS is available now. Request a free brochure from Green Hills Software ...

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