Press Releases

The purpose of the FSA-NG system is to provide the pilot with access to applications and information during the flight as well as to provide data for the maintenance team. The key features and requirements of this program include a soft real-time operating system capable of supporting ARINC-653 partitioning, a reliable, safe and secure dedicated high capacity Mass Storage Unit Cabinet, software segregation of application services, and multi-purpose graphical modules dedicated to managing the user’s access to applications through cockpit terminals.

Among the many requirements related to this new Airbus architecture, the following were particularly important:

• a multi-partitioned system that provides POSIX® as one of the main requirements
• the ability to develop certifiably safe software while also allowing high flexibility including the reuse of existing code
• the possibility to easily build upon the existing technology to provide a secure storage device and network connection access
• a flexible platform that allows interactive display functionality

A thorough evaluation of the product took place, showing that the functionality and performance requirements were met. Because the flexibility of PikeOS offered the ability to do rapid prototyping on a PC, it was possible for Airbus to validate the final architecture with confidence.

The uniquely innovative, safe, and secure virtualization platform of PikeOS enables “game-changing” technology leaps like the ones required for the success of major industrial programs such as the A350 XWB. Key advantages include the ability to mix different applications, to keep a high level of functionality with an unprecedented level of safety, and to secure both current and future platform choices.

PikeOS is a ground-breaking product providing an embedded systems platform where multiple virtual machines can run simultaneously in a secure environment. This secure virtualization technology allows multiple operating system APIs to run independently and concurrently on one machine - for example an ARINC-653 application together with Linux - which makes PikeOS the only RTOS providing a comparable field-proven solution today. The PikeOS safe and secure virtualization RTOS platform provides the widest range of operational guest operating systems or run-time environment “personalities” on the market.

The PikeOS microkernel architecture is ideal for cost sensitive, resource constrained devices as well as large, complex systems. The simplicity and compactness of the PikeOS design results in real-time performance that competes head-to-head with conventional proprietary RTOS solutions while offering innovations in platform independence. PikeOS is certifiable to the DO-178B avionics safety standard, and is also compliant with the Multiple Independent Levels of Security (MILS) standard.

PikeOS includes CODEO, an Eclipse-based integrated development environment that provides guided configuration, remote debugging (often down to the hardware instruction level), target monitoring, remote application deployment, and timing analyses in addition to standard application development features such as compilers and assemblers.

“We are delighted to see the world leading aircraft manufacturer Airbus validating SYSGO’s years of intense R&D effort. SYSGO has been dedicated to providing to the real time industry a new concept that goes beyond the traditional RTOS, and even beyond the basic partitioning approach defined by ARINC-653”, said Jacques Brygier, VP Marketing at SYSGO. “Airbus is one of a growing list of customers appreciating the value of the PikeOS virtualization strategy, and it is definitely one of the most significant adopters. Their requirements were very demanding, even for us, and we are pleased to have been able to rise to the challenge. We see PikeOS gaining popularity across different industries including automotive and industrial automation, but our increasing recognition in the avionics industry strongly confirms our strategy to penetrate this market as a high priority.”

More information at www.sysgo.com/pikeos