Virtualizing Real-Time Processing Units in Multi-Processor Systems-on-Chip

Abstract

Emerging Multiprocessor System-on-Chip (MPSoC) platforms, featuring asymmetric multi-processing (AMP), are becoming the underlying tool to develop real-time embedded mixed-criticality systems. These type of systems are key enablers for the emerging Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things revolution. Virtualization technologies can even more boost the opportunities brought by MPSoCs, providing unique isolation and flexibility features in next generation embedded devices. However, the management of hardware accelerators, such as realtime processing units (RPUs) available on today's MPSoCs, is still an open challenge. In this paper, we propose a virtualization-based architectural solution to RPU sharing in modern MPSoCs. The aim is to isolate the execution on RPUs of many tasks offloaded by several different VMs running on traditional application processors on the same chip. The practical implications of such architecture are discussed in the context of a case study regarding the real-time plasma vertical stabilization control in the ITER11ITER is a Nuclear Facility INB-174. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the ITER Organization.experimental fusion power plant.