Companies deliver a powerful and safety-certifiable embedded systems solution

TQ-Systems has updated the software ecosystem of its TQMa8x, thanks to PikeOS from SYSGO. "With PikeOS support for the NXP i.MX8 platform, we can provide our customers with a powerful, scalable, safety-certifiable solution for functionally safety-critical embedded systems," explains Konrad Zöpf, deputy director TQ Embedded and Product Management Arm/Layerscape at TQ-Systems.

SYSGO's PikeOS is a hypervisor-based real-time operating system developed for use in environments with mixed criticality. It delivers advanced functional and cybersecurity features, allowing customers to develop fully safety-certified solutions on multicore hardware. PikeOS supports multiple guest operating systems, including Linux, ARINC and POSIX, and can also run native PikeOS tasks, giving developers a high degree of flexibility without compromising security. The standard PikeOS Board Support Package (BSP) includes essential drivers for serial interfaces and Ethernet, ensuring smooth integration and rapid implementation.

SYSGO's certification kits can be employed to achieve functional safety in accordance with the IEC 61508 industrial safety standard, among others. These kits are available for PikeOS and can be used to attain the highest safety level (SIL 4). It is also pre-certified for many other safety standards, including ISO 26262 (automotive), DO-178C (avionics) and EN 50128/EN 50657 (railway technology). Thanks to its pre-certification against the Common Criteria security standard at EAL 5+ level, the PikeOS Separation Kernel (version 5.1.3) also provides the highest level of cybersecurity.

The TQMa8x plug-in module is based on the i.MX8 processor from NXP. This processor is available in three variants with different performance levels and orientations. With up to two Cortex-A72 cores and up to four Cortex-A53 cores, it provides an optimal balance of performance and power dissipation. Also, the integrated graphics controller supports applications with high display requirements, such as 3D graphics and augmented reality functions. PikeOS provides VkCore-SC Vulkan SC GPU support for i.MX 8 QuadMax systems, enabling safety-certified HMI graphics and AI applications. Full access to all signal pins ensures flexible applications and cost-efficient project development.

"By porting PikeOS to the TQMa8x, we are creating an optimal platform for highly integrated, safety-critical embedded systems for our joint customers," says Franz Walkembach, SYSGO's VP of Marketing and Alliances. "The combination of TQ's powerful i.MX8 module and our certifiable hypervisor technology accelerates development projects and mitigates risk in demanding applications."

The partnership between SYSGO and TQ offers an integrated solution for AI, industrial, and automation applications.