What Sets IntervalZero RTX64 Apart from Any Other RTOS?

Aug 28, 2023

IntervalZero RTX64 is an RTOS (real-time operating system) that operates on the Windows platform and is specifically intended for deployment in essential applications such as industrial automation and medical equipment. It incorporates a second, real-time scheduler at the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL), which expands Windows into an RTOS.

While the Windows Scheduler on the HAL serves general purposes, it is not reliable enough to meet the demands of high-precision machine automation. Despite this limitation, Windows provides several advantages. In comparison, RTX64 and Windows are similar to a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup: each is great on its own, but when combined, they create a remarkable outcome.

The following are some top reasons why the combination of RTX64 and Windows stands out in contrast to other RTOSs.

Compatible with Windows: The main benefit of IntervalZero RTX64 is its greater compatibility with Windows. It allows developers, as well as machine builders, to use the familiar Windows development environment to develop real-time applications. This can bring down the development time and expenses significantly.

Share the Same Memory: Precision machines consist of a coordinating application and a Human Machine Interface (HMI) application. Some RTOSs offer their own HMI development environment or a remote interface to Windows. However, in both scenarios, these applications are incapable of directly exchanging information between the RTOS and HMI applications. With RTX64, the HMI shares the same memory, allowing for the most up-to-date data and the lowest latency of any RTOS solution that depends on Windows.

Can Support Multi-Core Processor: IntervalZero RTX64 is purposefully engineered to accommodate multicore processors, allowing developers to capitalize on the performance advantages of contemporary processors. This feature empowers developers to create real-time applications to manage high workloads and sustain precise timing even under intense demands. RTX64 utilizes affinity masking to allocate the load to the appropriate core while still being able to share memory with Windows.

Hard Real-Time Response: IntervalZero RTX64, a hard real-time OS, can guarantee a predictable response time to events, even under heavy loads. This quality is critical in applications where timing is crucial, including control systems, robotics, and medical devices.

Support Multiple Protocols: IntervalZero RTX64 boasts superior communication capabilities, including the ability to support multiple protocols such as EtherCAT, Profitnet, Modbus, and CAN, among others. This feature allows real-time applications to communicate with other systems and devices, delivering low latency and excellent reliability.

Support Several Programming Languages: IntervalZero RTX64 supports several programming languages, including C, C++, and .NET languages, such as C# and VB.NET. This simplifies the development process of real-time applications because developers can use the programming language they excel in.

Equipped with Advanced Debugging Features: IntervalZero RTX64 provides developers access to advanced debugging features, such as kernel-aware debugging. These features enable them to find and resolve issues in real-time applications simply through the analysis of the kernel level. Hence, developers can easily identify and fix fixing real-time application bugs.

To conclude, IntervalZero RTX64 is a robust RTOS with a vast range of advanced features and capabilities for real-time application development. The credit for its popularity among developers goes to its combination with Windows, which makes it a favorite choice for those who feel comfortable working with Microsoft Windows Visual Studio and those who work on critical applications such as medical devices and industrial automation.