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Real Time Operating System (RTOS)

Real-time operating systems (RTOS) are used in applications that must process events within strict time constraints. An RTOS guarantees that critical tasks are completed on time through priority-based scheduling. There are three types of RTOS: hard real-time which guarantees deadlines are always met; soft real-time which provides some flexibility; and firm real-time where missing deadlines can reduce quality but not cause failure. RTOS are used in applications like robotics, avionics, and multimedia due to their ability to maximize resource usage, minimize task switching time, and ensure error-free operation through prioritized processing.

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225 views

Real Time Operating System (RTOS)

Real-time operating systems (RTOS) are used in applications that must process events within strict time constraints. An RTOS guarantees that critical tasks are completed on time through priority-based scheduling. There are three types of RTOS: hard real-time which guarantees deadlines are always met; soft real-time which provides some flexibility; and firm real-time where missing deadlines can reduce quality but not cause failure. RTOS are used in applications like robotics, avionics, and multimedia due to their ability to maximize resource usage, minimize task switching time, and ensure error-free operation through prioritized processing.

Uploaded by

Blaser Tactical
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Real Time Operating System

(RTOS)
Real-time operating systems (RTOS) are used in environments where a large number
of events, mostly external to the computer system, must be accepted and processed in
a short time or within certain deadlines. such applications are industrial control,
telephone switching equipment, flight control, and real-time simulations.  With an
RTOS, the processing time is measured in tenths of seconds. This system is time-
bound and has a fixed deadline. The processing in this type of system must occur
within the specified constraints. Otherwise, This will lead to system failure.

Examples of the real-time operating systems: Airline traffic control systems, Command
Control Systems, Airlines reservation system, Heart Peacemaker, Network Multimedia
Systems, Robot etc.
The real-time operating systems can be of 3 types – 
Hard Real-Time operating system: 
These operating systems guarantee that critical tasks be completed within a range
of time. For example, a robot is hired to weld a car body. If the robot welds too
early or too late, the car cannot be sold, so it is a hard real-time system that
requires complete car welding by robot hardly on the time. 

Soft real-time operating system: 
This operating system provides some relaxation in the time limit. For example –
Multimedia systems, digital audio systems etc. Explicit, programmer-defined and
controlled processes are encountered in real-time systems. A separate process is
changed with handling a single external event. The process is activated upon
occurrence of the related event signalled by an interrupt. 
Multitasking operation is accomplished by scheduling processes for execution
independently of each other. Each process is assigned a certain level of priority
that corresponds to the relative importance of the event that it services. The
processor is allocated to the highest priority processes. This type of schedule,
called, priority-based pre-emptive scheduling is used by real-time systems.
Firm Real-time Operating System: 
RTOS of this type have to follow deadlines as well. In spite of its small impact,
missing a deadline can have unintended consequences, including a reduction in
the quality of the product. Example: Multimedia applications.

Advantages: 
The advantages of real-time operating systems are as follows- 
Maximum consumption – 
Maximum utilization of devices and systems. Thus more output from all the resources. 
 
Task Shifting – 
Time assigned for shifting tasks in these systems is very less. For example, in older systems,
it takes about 10 microseconds. Shifting one task to another and in the latest systems, it
takes 3 microseconds. 
 
Focus On Application – 
Focus on running applications and less importance to applications that are in the queue. 
Real-Time Operating System In Embedded System – 
Since the size of programs is small, RTOS can also be embedded systems like in transport
and others. 
 
Error Free – 
These types of systems are error-free. 
 
Memory Allocation – 
Memory allocation is best managed in these types of systems.
Disadvantages: 
The disadvantages of real-time operating systems are as follows- 
 
Limited Tasks – 
Very few tasks run simultaneously, and their concentration is very less on few
applications to avoid errors. 
 
Use Heavy System Resources – 
Sometimes the system resources are not so good and they are expensive as well. 
 
Complex Algorithms – 
The algorithms are very complex and difficult for the designer to write on. 
Device Driver And Interrupt signals – 
It needs specific device drivers and interrupts signals to respond earliest to interrupts. 
 
Thread Priority – 
It is not good to set thread priority as these systems are very less prone to switching
tasks.
 
Minimum Switching –  RTOS performs minimal task switching.
Why use an RTOS?
There are well-established techniques for writing good embedded software without the use
of an RTOS. In some cases, these techniques may provide the most appropriate solution;
however as the solution becomes more complex, the benefits of an RTOS become more
apparent. These include:

Priority Based Scheduling: The ability to separate critical processing from non-critical is


a powerful tool.
Abstracting Timing Information: The RTOS is responsible for timing and provides API
functions. This allows for cleaner (and smaller) application code.
Maintainability/Extensibility: Abstracting timing dependencies and task based design
results in fewer interdependencies between modules. This makes for easier maintenance.
Modularity: The task based API naturally encourages modular development as a task will
typically have a clearly defined role.
Promotes Team Development: The task-based system allows separate designers/teams to
work independently on their parts of the project.
Easier Testing: Modular task based development allows for modular task based testing.
Code Reuse: Another benefit of modularity is that similar applications on similar
platforms will inevitably lead to the development of a library of standard tasks.
Improved Efficiency: An RTOS can be entirely event driven; no processing time is
wasted polling for events that have not occurred.
Idle Processing: Background or idle processing is performed in the idle task. This
ensures that things such as CPU load measurement, background CRC checking etc
will not affect the main processing.

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