Open-Source Research on Time-predictable Computer Architecture

Abstract

Real-time systems need time-predictable computers to guarantee that computation can be performed within a given deadline. For worst-case execution time analysis we need detailed knowledge of the processor and memory architecture. Providing the design of a processor in open source enables the development of worst-case execution time analysis tools without the unsafe reverse engineering of processor architectures. As an example project, we will present T-CREST, an open-source, time-predictable multicore platform for real-time systems. The project started within an EU-funded project. Most artifacts have been put into open-source, greatly simplifying the coop-eration and also the further adaption of T-CREST in further research work. Furthermore, open-source enables reproducibility and therefore increases the confidence