Learning Journal Unit 1

Ubochiegbu Chidubem Nelson

Department of Computer Science

University of the People

CS 3307 - 01 – OPERATING SYSTEMS 2 - AY2025-T2

Dr. Osama Aloqaily (Instructor)

November 14th, 2024

According to Barney and Gillis (2024), a real-time operating system (RTOS) is an operating

system designed to ensure real-time applications perform specific tasks within strict deadlines.

These systems are commonly used in critical operations and devices like microcontrollers

(MCUs) that require precise timing (Barney & Gillis, 2024). The processing times in an RTOS

are usually measured in milliseconds, where any delay in response can lead to severe

consequences. While RTOSes share similar features with general-purpose operating systems

(GPOSes) like Linux, Windows, and macOS, they are specifically designed with schedulers that

can handle tasks with precise timing and meet strict deadlines (Barney & Gillis, 2024). This

means an RTOS handles tasks by prioritizing the most important ones, ensuring they run

immediately, even if it interrupts less critical tasks. Unlike general-purpose operating systems

(GPOSes) that focus on generality, overall system performance, and user experience, an RTOS is

built to meet strict timing requirements. This makes it perfect for embedded systems used in areas

like cars, medical equipment, and industrial machines (Barney & Gillis, 2024).

Real-time operating systems are widely integrated into modern technology and have become

essential to our daily lives due to their role in powering various critical systems. Here are some of

the key areas where RTOS is used:

Defense Systems (RADAR): RTOS helps radar systems detect and follow potential threats

quickly, allowing for fast responses (BasuMallick, 2024). It processes large amounts of data in

real-time to make sure the system can detect and track objects accurately, which is important for

national security as it provides important information to operators without delay (BasuMallick,

2024).

Air Traffic Control Systems: In air traffic control systems that use RTOS, sensors, and radars

collect information about the positions, speeds, heights, and flight paths of aircraft. RTOS
processes this information to keep track of air traffic, spot possible problems, and give

instructions to pilots, ensuring planes stay safely apart and reducing delays (BasuMallick, 2024).

Networked Multimedia Systems: RTOS handles and delivers audio, video, and image data with

very little delay in multimedia systems that are connected over a network. This helps ensure

smooth playback and synchronization across different devices. This is important for things like

video calls and streaming, as it allows for continuous experiences and fast data transfer

(BasuMallick, 2024).

Medical Devices: In medical devices such as ventilators, infusion pumps, and CT scanners,

RTOS helps process important data quickly, ensuring accurate measurements and immediate

responses when emergencies happen (BasuMallick, 2024).

Share Trading Apps: RTOS makes sure that real-time market data is processed quickly, meeting

strict time limits, and it also protects sensitive financial data through memory protection, keeping

tasks separate, and secure communication (BasuMallick, 2024). RTOS helps keep the system

stable, handles many user requests at once, and ensures it responds quickly even when under

heavy use (BasuMallick, 2024). Its ability to handle errors helps prevent crashes and allows for

recovery, making the system more reliable, and it also supports the communication needed for

trading (BasuMallick, 2024).

Robotics: RTOS makes sure that tasks in robotic systems are well-organized and work together

smoothly, and it helps control robotic arms, sensors, and other parts so they all operate together

(Alex, 2022). This is essential for robots to do complex tasks like assembly, inspection, and

packaging reliably, which is important for automation in factories (Alex, 2022).

Compared to real-time operating systems, general-purpose operating systems are better suited for

public use. They are designed with users in mind, offering a user-friendly interface and flexibility

for various tasks (Hash, 2024). General-purpose systems are optimized for multitasking, allowing

users to run multiple applications at once, including productivity tools, entertainment, and

development software (Hash, 2024). They are made to support a wide range of hardware and

manage complex user interactions, making them perfect for personal computers, laptops, and

servers (Hash, 2024). Finally, real-time systems, which focus on meeting deadlines and

predictable task execution, and general-purpose systems prioritize user experience and

adaptability (Hash, 2024).

In conclusion, while real-time operating systems have many important uses, they are limited in

the range of tasks they can handle simultaneously. This is why user-facing operating systems like

Linux and Windows continue to be widely used. However, the significance of real-time operating

systems cannot be overlooked, as they are vital for critical systems and modern technologies.
Reference:

Barney, N., & Gillis, A. S. (2024, October 1). What is a real-time operating system (RTOS)?

Search Data Center. https://www.techtarget.com/searchdatacenter/definition/real-time-operating-

system

BasuMallick, C. (2024, March 25). Real-Time Operating System (RTOS): Working and examples

| Spiceworks. Spiceworks Inc. https://www.spiceworks.com/tech/hardware/articles/what-is-rtos/

Alex. (2022, June 6). What is Real-Time Computing and why is it important in Robotics? -

Robotics Casual. Robotics Casual. https://roboticscasual.com/what-is-real-time-computing-and-

why-is-it-important-in-robotics/

Hash, E. (2024, April 24). Difference between the real-time operating system and non-real-time

operating system in Embedded systems. Medium.

https://medium.com/@embeddedhash.in/difference-between-the-real-time-operating-system-and-

non-real-time-operating-system-in-embedded-705fedb7675f