Product category:
Embedded Software and Operating Systems
News Release from: Kuka Controls
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 14 March 2005
Programme certifies components for OS
coexistance
Kuka Controls has set up a programme to certify component compatibility for running Windows XP and either Wind River VxWorks or Windows CE concurrently on a single processor.
Kuka Controls has set up a programme to certify component compatibility for running Windows XP and either Wind River VxWorks or Windows CE concurrently on a single processor Although customers have already run many applications using the Kuka Controls extensions that facilitate the coexistence and high performance of these operating systems on a single processor, developers on new projects will benefit from the new certification programme as it will simplify hardware and ancillary software selection
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 28 Oct 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Software brings Windows XP and VxWorks together
VxWin 2.2 is the latest release of the Windows XP extension to VxWorks from Kuka Controls.
Free evaluation for embedded Windows extension
An evaluation copy of the latest release of the CeWin real-time extension platform is available to qualified embedded systems developers from the Kuka Controls website.
With CeWin, the Windows CE real-time operating system runs concurrently with Windows XP on just one CPU.
With its sister product VxWin, the VxWorks operating system takes on the corresponding real-time role.
This creates a very powerful and fast system, which can perform demanding real-time and connectivity tasks.
Further reading
Upgraded cohabitation for XP Embedded and VxWorks
VxWin is a real-time extension that allows Wind River VxWorks and Windows XP to reside concurrently on a single processor.
RTOS extensions find industrial automation niche
Kuka Controls has identified industrial automation as one of the most promising market segments for its real-time operating system enhancement products - CeWin and VxWin.
Software for an Embedded World
Kuka Controls will demonstrate VxWin and CeWin on Booth 121 in Hall 11 at Embedded World in Nuremburg together with its distributor Acontis.
Communication between the operating systems is realised either via a virtual network with TCP/IP or by accessing a shared memory area.
With help of the virtual network, common protocols such as OPC, ftp, DCOM, CORBA and SOAP can also be used for communication between the systems.
The cost savings realised by the concurrent operation on a single system come about as the developer doesn't need a second system for the high-end visualisation or HMI.
The nonproprietary extensions, CeWin and VxWin, do not inhibit the performance of either OS and the well-known Wind River and Windows development tools speed the development process.
The component certification programme will further speed the development time for new systems by identifying the software and hardware components that deliver the maximum performance for the combined OSs.
Kuka Controls will be testing relevant components and modules together with their manufacturers for compatibility with the Kuka Controls real-time extensions CeWin and VxWin.
The goal is to establish a pool of certified hardware from which customers can optionally choose components according to their requirements.
The first certification of the programme was granted to Woodhead Industries for its product family of ApplicomIO cards for automation including certified fieldbus cards.
ApplicomIO cards running under CeWin and VxWin, are especially suitable for automation solutions in need of high transfer rates between the device bus and the application, eg for PC based control, visualisation or manufacturer specific applications under real-time conditions.
The combination of CeWin, VxWin and ApplicomIO products meet two decisive requirements: to visualise under Windows XP and to control with a real-time operating system on a single PC.
Via a standard programming interface within the ApplicomIO software, the application can access all ApplicomIO-supported protocols and device formats.
Up to eight cards with different protocols can be operated simultaneously in one PC.
For software interfaces, development libraries (DLL), OPC servers, Wonderware I/O servers (DDE and SuitLink) and an ActiveX Control for programming tools such as Visual Basic are included in the package.
Configuration and diagnosis of all ApplicomIO modules can be performed through the Applicom console.
The ApplicomIO field bus cards are available in PC/104, PCI and CompactPCI for Profibus DP, CANopen, DeviceNet, Interbus and Modbus TCP/IP.
Specifically for use in OEM projects, ApplicomIO products have numerous auxiliary functions such as an application watchdog, flash memory for auto- booting, network diagnosis tools and remote configurations.
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