RTSS 2020

Design and Dynamic Update of Real-Time Systems
Wang Yi

Abstract. Technology solutions are becoming utterly dependent on software. Today, the functionality of most industrial systems and products such as cars, smart phones, and medical devices is implemented by software as embedded real-time system. The reliability of these systems is fundamental to the functioning of our society, as evidenced by accidents reported in recent years, e.g., involving self-driving Tesla cars controlled by software. The current trend is that today’s mostly closed and single purpose embedded real-time systems will become open platforms. They will allow integration of an expanding number of software components over their life-time e.g., in order to enhance and customize their functionality according to the varying needs of individual users, and to defend against upcoming security threats. To enable this, we must have systems that support dynamic updates on-demand, but still retain their safety properties. To be feasible, and to ensure that the resulting systems stay safe, software updates must be performed in a component-wise and incremental manner without demanding re-designing/updating/verifying the whole system.

Prof. Wang Yi is the recipient of the IEEE TCRTS Outstanding Technical Achievement and Leadership Award 2019. The award speech is rescheduled to RTSS 2020 due to the cancellation of RTSS 2019.

Panelists

1. Scott Beecher, Pratt and Whitney
2. Zamira Daw, RTX Research
3. Brendan Hall, Honeywell
4. Alessandro Pinto, RTX Research

Real Time Spent on Real Time
Reinhard Wilhelm

Abstract. Worst-Case Execution-Time (WCET) Analysis is the first phase of Timing Analysis, which attempts to verify that a set of real-time tasks can be executed on an execution platform such that all tasks respect their deadlines. WCET analysis determines upper bounds on execution times, which are then passed on to a Schedulability Analysis, the second phase of Timing Analysis. This clean separation into the two phases holds for single-core execution platforms. Multi-core platforms require a more complex interaction between WCET analysis and schedulability analysis. We have solved the WCET-analysis problem for single-core platforms. Key to our success was the use of Abstract Interpretation for the static analysis of the behavior of architectural components such as caches, pipelines, buses, and peripheries. The Program-Analyzer Generator (PAG), which is based on Abstract Interpretation, allowed us to quickly develop and experiment with abstract domains, to arrive at sound, precise, and scalable solutions.

Prof. Reinhard Wilhelm is the recipient of the IEEE TCRTS Outstanding Technical Achievement and Leadership Award 2020.

An Empirical Survey-based Study into Industry Practice in Real-time Systems
Benny Akesson , Mitra Nasri, Geoffrey Nelissen, Sebastian Altmeyer, Robert I. Davis

This session begins with presentation of the results and observations from the above survey of 120 industry practitioners in the field of real-time embedded systems. The survey provides insights into the characteristics of the systems being developed today and identifies important trends for the future. It extends the results from the survey data to the broader population that it is representative of, and discusses significant differences between application domains. The survey aims to inform both academics and practitioners, helping to avoid divergence between industry practice and fundamental academic research.

The session includes a panel discussion involving three industry practitioners: Marcelo Lopez Ruiz (Microsoft), Simon Schliecker (Volkswagen), and Stephen Law (Rolls-Royce), who took part in the survey, and Benny Akesson, the lead academic author. They will discuss four key questions relating to the survey results, as well as taking questions from the audience.