Realtime Software development system

With this software package is is possible to turn standard PC hardware into impressive realtime control systems with networking to other realtime systems, Internet and Windows PC's. The development environment includes a C++ compiler, a high level PLC language, object oriented programming (function blocks) and advanced debugging facilities. It runs on Windows 95 and Windows NT.

Advanced Real Time Operating System

Index:
• Features
• Realtime Specifications
• Software Specifications
• Commercial Information


Features

Windows 98, Window NT and LINUX development system
• Manual in Windows Help style
• C++ 32 bit cross compiler for INTEL (optional MOTOROLA)
• No interrupt disabling (reliable response)
• Very fast (4.500.000 reschedules/sec on Pentium 133)
• Proven track record
• Real-time file system (DOS), ROM, RAM and Flash
• Real-time networking (bus, ethernet) for multiprocessor systems
• UNIX look-alike system calls
• TCP/IP networking
• Event driven real-time tags
• Object programming interface (function blocks)
• Remote job entry and replacement in running systems
• Built-in real-time tracing and monitor functions
• Options tools for 4GL motion control, release management, graphics etc.
• Drivers for all kind of peripherals (Floppy, IDE, Serial, Parallel, VGA, Modem, Flash & ROM files etc.
• Suited for embedded systems (386EX to Pentium Pro) and even standard PC hardware


Proven history

Advanced Real Time Operating System is one of the oldest realtime systems with a proven record in many professional applications. Development was started more than a decade ago, directly for 32 bits CPU’s with a large memory model and multiprocessor applications. The original development environment was based on UNIX for Motorola CPU’s. Since 1994 Advanced Real Time Operating System became available for Windows NT and Windows 95 to develop applications for Intel CPU’s and standard PC hardware. New features are introduced every year such as the latest technology on ISDN communication, Flash file systems, Java support, OCXen for Visual C++, Delphi and Visual Basis applications, Internet server facilities and so on.

For all sorts of hardware platforms

The Advanced Real Time Operating System 32-bit real-time runtime environment is suited for all sorts of hardware platforms like embedded controllers, bus systems (VME, ISA, PCI and others) and even standard PC motherboards. With the realtime networking facilities also multiprocessor and distributed control systems can be build. Advanced Real Time Operating System will run on 32 bit Intel and Motorola CPU’s including small one’s like the 386EX and 68008, even with a ROM or Flash file system. The kernel has been optimized for multi-tasking control applications resulting in a reliable (interrupts are never disabled) and very fast realtime performance (more than 4.500.000 reschedules/sec on a Pentium 133).

Multiprocessor and distributed system support

Advanced Real Time Operating System provides all facilities for realtime multiprocessor and realtime network configurations, so that resources can easily be shared.Transparent network functionality is offered, crossing CPU and machine boundaries. Multiprocessor systems can be build with ISA/PCI CPU’s using the bus as fast communication path. With the NDIS driver communication with standard PC software is available. Distributed computer applications can be build using (redundant) Ethernet communications in combination with serial links (RS232, modems and so on). The fault-tolerant realtime network automatically re-routs data when a cable or network node fails. Communication protocols TCP/IP and related products are used to support the communication with a large variety of computers.

Build for productivity

Advanced Real Time Operating System offers most features as known in other systems like UNIX and OS9, such as message passing & synchronization (pipes, signals, events), memory management, file system (DOS), peripheral control (disks, serial ports etc.), TCP/IP networking, Telnet, Shell command interpreter and so on. In addition many tools and system calls are available to offer the application developers the most productive environment available, thus reducing the costs of programming and time to market considerably. Key customers of Locamation are able to make more than 500 complicated and customized applications per year with only three software engineers.

Modular design

The architecture of Advanced Real Time Operating System is modular. This means that the functionality of the realtime system can be adapted to the requirements and the available system resources (memory, peripherals etc.). A very special feature is that drivers, programs and even parts of the operating system can be loaded and replaced in running systems (remote job entry).

Realtime data support

Fast response on data is achieved by event driven realtime tags. This mechanism also enables object oriented programming and control, as inputs and output tags can be linked dynamically to software modules. They even can be accessed via TCP/IP.

Good interface with Windows platforms

Interfacing with controllers build into standard PC’s is done with the NDIS driver. This is comparable with the standard Ethernet drivers. In this way its easy to communicate between realtime controllers and Windows applications, as it makes no difference whether the controller is connected by ethernet, a serial link (SLIP) or the ISA/PCI bus.

Comfort of high level PLC language

For less experienced programmers, Locamation offers an easy but very powerful PLC programming language. This language supports parallel execution of statements and allows concurrent execution of many program modules (comparable with Grafcet). For advanced applications, also C functions can be included and programs written in C can be executed simultaneously.

Powerful debugging facilities

All required information for debugging and optimization can be extracted in running systems using the command interpreter, such as CPU time in uSeconds per task, stack and memory usage, trace of system calls, event status, messages and so on. Dynamic usage of CPU time, memory and the values of tags can even be displayed using a software oscilloscope.

Windows, Windows NT and LINUX suite

Applications can be developed on Windows, Windows NT and LINUX PC’s. The package includes a full C++ cross compiler environment with an online Windows Help System. On request special tools like a 4GL PLC Motion control system, release management tools, a graphic development suite and others can be supplied.

REALTIME SPECIFICATIONS



SOFTWARE SPECIFICATIONS



COMMERCIAL INFORMATION

Royalties
Runtime royalties have to be paid for each target system. Two versions are available, one for stand alone systems and one for distributed/multiprocessor applications.

Development licenses
For each development system a license is required. With the basic license one can build applications using the easy PLC motion language. With the full license also the C++ development environment and distributed/multiprocessor control support is included. Next to the full license also special modules can be supplied.

Support
On request any type of support is available.