SpringNe: A Scalable Architecture For High Performance, Predictable, and Distributed Real-Time Computing

Abstract

Many next generation, critical, hard real--time systems will require greater flexibility, dependability, and predictability than is commonly found in today''s systems. These future systems include the space station, integrated vision/robotics/AI systems, collections of hu- mans/robots coordinating to achieve common objectives (usually in hazardous environments such as undersea exploration or chemical plants), and various command and control appli- cations. Such real-time applications also have demanding execution requirements requiring high performance computing. Our research approach challenges several basic assumptions upon which most current real--time systems are built and subsequently advocates a new paradigm based on the notion of predictability and on a method for on-line dynamic guar- antee of certain types of deadlines. The new paradigm requires an integrated set of solutions ranging from design and specification methods and tools, to real-time languages, real-time operating systems, and real-time system architectures. SpringNet is an architecture being developed to support scalable high performance computing of critical, distributed real-time systems.