What is Embedded and Real-Time Systems?

About 8.3 billion microprocessors have been produced per year all over the world and of them, the number of microprocessors for information processing such as personal computer is about 0.15 billion, only 2%. The remaining 98% is used for embedded systems. Microprocessors for embedded systems have progressed to be smaller, latescent and lighter, and it is completely different trends against trends of microprocessors for personal computer such as speedier and larger.

A real-time system is a system which is required to complete processing reliably within a certain limited time. It is necessary to be real-time for various systems, such as mission-critical systems, automobiles, airplanes, medical devices and industrial robots, etc.

The OS which is required to construct real-time system is called real-time OS. Real-time OS is aimed at real physical phenomenon without waiting such as engine control of automobile. Therefore, it is required to perform high-speed task switching within a microsecond considering of priorities of tasks. Thus to perform processing within a microsecond required in machine control and communication control, event-driven real-time OS for embedded system is indispensable. Meanwhile, round-robin OS for information processing performs processing mainly through user interface and it has technical limitations in priority control and task swithing within a microsecond.

In Sakamura-Koshizuka Laboratory, from the beginning of TRON Project in 1984 we have been studying embedded computer systems and the study results have led to the world's most popular embedded and real-time OS.
For improving development efficiency of embedded and real-time systems and for distribution of software assets such as middleware, we have developed T-Kernel which is a embedded and real-time OS and inherits the technologies of TRON and we have been studying middleware which runs on T-Kernel and furthermore we have been studying development support such as corresponding to integrated development environment, Eclipse, etc.
And we have been studying infrastructure technologies to realize applied systems, which are security systems addressing threats to security such as forgery, reproduction and alteration of information and traceability systems required after uncovering camouflage of food labels, etc. in recent information society. For example, we have been studying of the ubiquitous ID architecture based on ucodes, sensor network technology and eTRON which is the information security infrastructure architecture, etc.
And we have been studying actively about applied systems in the real world such as Ubiquitous Space Location Information Systems and Food Traceability Systems conducting feasibility study experiments and promoting actual utilization in cooperation with public offices and private companies.
Thus through wide-ranging research and development from infrastructure technologies to applied systems, we have been pursuing the realization of ubiquitous computing society, ubiquitous means being everywhere, which is the goal of TRON project.