Operating environment updates add multi-core silicon & partitioning capabilities

VxWorks 653 3.0 Multi-core Edition is an ARINC 653-compliant environment developed specifically to utilise the advantages of multi-core silicon architectures to provide greater flexibility, performance, and application consolidation, under strict ARINC 653 avionics software requirements. By utilising multi-core separations and partitioning, this consolidation platform enables customers to re-use legacy software while expanding functionality beyond that which is possible when using single-core silicon platforms.

This version of VxWorks 653 will also enable customers to integrate multiple software applications at different levels of safety from multiple application software suppliers on a shared compute platform. The robust safety partitioning, virtualisation and separation capabilities of VxWorks 653, certified and validated in mission-critical avionics systems, also make it suitable for critical industrial and transportation applications.

Separately, Wind River has released Wind River VxWorks 653 2.5 Platform, which supports both the ARINC 653 standard and the Safety Base Profile of the FACE Technical Standard 2.1 from the FACE Consortium. The FACE Technical Standard provides guidelines for creating a common operating environment for applications across multiple Department of Defence avionics systems. VxWorks 653 Platform supports numerous open standards and allows customers to choose from a variety of APIs when developing their safety-critical airborne applications.

Part of the Wind River product portfolio of safe and secure operating systems, VxWorks 653 is a COTS platform for delivering safety-critical, integrated modular avionics applications. Used in over 325 programs by more than 185 customers in over 70 aircraft, VxWorks 653 is the platform of choice for a wide range of commercial, military, and space safety- and mission-critical programs, both manned and unmanned, around the globe. These include Airbus and Boeing military and commercial aircraft like the Airbus A400M and Boeing 787.

“With the two latest versions of VxWorks 653, not only are we enabling a shift toward adoption of multi-core silicon in the safety-critical market, but also strengthening our commitment to open standards and portability with support of the FACE Technical Standard,” said Dinyar Dastoor, vice president of product management at Wind River. “These platform updates are allowing customers to utilise cutting-edge multi-core hardware and open standards to increase profitability, reduce risks, and address regulatory requirements.”