ETRI has developed Qplus-hyper, a dual OS(Operating System) where a highly reliable RTOS(Real-Time OS) and a high-performing OS simultaneously work in a single hardware.
The newly developed technology is expected to allow for lighter systems as well as reduced costs and power consumption and quicker repair of any failure in a number of fields using embedded systems, such as manufacturing, telecommunications, and medical care.
This dual OS technology not only features a design optimized for embedded hardware, but also minimizes the time required for handling interrupts. Plus, it supports both simultaneous use of graphic devices through a virtualized GPU(Graphics Processing Unit) and swift recovery and booting based on the storage and restoration of snapshot images.
Above all, the most notable feature of the newly developed technology is that it can consolidate a number of systems consisting of the existing hardware, OS, and application software into a single system without any modification, in fields that place utmost emphasis on security, such as national defense, automobiles, aviation, railways, ships, and robots.
For instance, a car’s engine, fuel, brakes, and navigation are each controlled by different systems, and the automotive industry wants to integrate them into a united system while ensuring each unit operates as usual. This industrial need is expected to be realized through an integrated automotive control system once ETRI’s dual OS system is applied.
Additionally, when this dual OS is adopted for network devices, uninterrupted network services will be available via duplicated systems.
“We have developed a lightweight structure in order to secure a competitive edge against overseas dual OS technologies and take the initiative in technological competition, and we also conducted a formal verification based on A-SPICE certification and mathematical methods,” said Dr. Chae Deok Lim, Director of Embedded SW Research Department. She also said “Our future efforts will focus on applying the technology to automotive and national defense areas.”