Real-time multi-core components for cyber-physical systems

Developing correct, efficient, and maintainable real-time control software for cyber-physical systems is a notoriously difficult interdisciplinary challenge. Ever more complex control algorithms and the advent of multi-core hardware in embedded systems have made this challenge even harder. Component-based software development promises to help reduce the complexity and to increase the timing predictability for time-critical software. This paper presents FASA, a component-based approach for scalable real-time systems. This approach offers a platform-independent development method with a high degree of predictability, supports multi-core systems by design, and simplifies maintenance. Two case studies validate FASA: an application handling a magnetic levitation device and an example of scalability.