In the context of the SFB it is principally the hardware and software platforms of control and regulation equipment that are seen as real-time systems. These include both operating systems and communications systems, because the fulfillment of a distributed task calls for interlinked electronic and mechatronic components.
A real-time computer system is a computer system in which the correctness of the system behavior depends not only on the logical results of the computations, but also on the physical instant at which these results are produced. A real-time computer system is always part of a larger system this larger system is called a real-time system.
Specification of real-time classes according to IAONA
This workgroups objective is to handle requirements from all the SFBs individual projects for (soft or hard) real-time capability in such a way as to support the exchange of ideas when solving specific real-time requirements and using the corresponding tools. During the period covered by the SFBs first grant the workgroup extracted the most important real-time terms from the relevant technical publications and from the results worked out a standard usage for real-time terminology as a basis for joint discussions at the SFB.
The workgroups regular meetings served the SFBs participating subprojects as a forum, with the individual subprojects reporting on the real-time requirements identified in their area or introducing services to support real-time processing or communications. To supplement these identified real-time requirements the workgroup launched a survey of all the SFBs subprojects, and from the results of this survey it was possible to establish links between the real-time requirements of the individual subprojects. The workgroup also investigated the real-time requirements of the various demonstrators, i.e. the suspension and tilt module, drive and brake module, and power management. The information gathered in these ways was regularly posted on the workgroups internet page and in the SFB intranet and thereby made available to all the subprojects. In addition, the workgroup invited external speakers to report on current topics in the area of real-time operation.
The results of this workgroup have shown that real-time topics have an important role to play at the SFB. The significance of this field will increase as the subprojects make further progress in their individual areas. During the period covered by the second grant this workgroup will continue to coordinate discussions between the subprojects dealing with real-time requirements and appropriate solutions, and will formulate the prerequisites for developing components capable of real-time operation. The workgroup will also deal with general concepts for and fundamental aspects of the development of real-time systems, in order to support the subprojects own development work.
