RTOS deal for European software defined satellite
Thales Alenia Space is to deploy the PikeOS real time operating system (RTOS) from Sysgo in a European ARM-based software defined satellite.
PikeOS for MPU, developed in Germany, was chosen for the Space Inspire (SPI) line as it provides multiple independent levels of security (MILS) to run applications of mixed criticality. It is running on a multicore processor developed by STMicroelectronics and built on a 28nm silicon on insulator (SOI) process with embedded FPGA.
Sysgo’s PikeOS for MPU is built on its PikeOS separation kernel (5.1.3) is widely used and safety certified for avionics, automotive, rail and medical applications security certified against Common Criteria at EAL5+.
Space Inspire is a software defined telecommunication satellite that supports full reconfiguration in orbit, extensive hosting capacity, smart operations and cyber security by design. SYSGO’s hypervisor RTOS for processors with memory protection unit (MPU) will be the secure base for orchestrating this set of functionalities on an ARM Cortex R52 based multiprocessor system on a chip.
The chip was developed by the DAHLIA consortium of Airbus Defence and Space, ISD, NanoXplore, STMicroelectronics and Thales Alenia Space. This is designed to provide flexibility for reliable real-time applications where mixed-criticalities between co-running applications will need to be guaranteed and where resources will be allocated in time and space to the running applications.
“We are very happy to be able to use PikeOS for MPU because we were looking for a solution that would enable to execute applications with mixed criticality while addressing the increased threat level against space applications. The cybersecure foundation of PikeOS for MPU is a key advantage for Space Inspire,” says Christophe Valorge, CTO at Thales Alenia Space.
“We are proud to deliver a technology which contributes to the (r)evolution of the space market and that Thales Alenia Space chose PikeOS for MPU for the software defined services provided by their new generation of telecommunications satellites. Leveraging on low power multi-core processors to execute simultaneously various applications in a cybersecured MILS and safety environment brings an incredible flexibility and scalability across the Space Inspire product line,” said Etienne Butery, CEO at Sysgo.
The advantage of PikeOS for MPU is that the code can also be certified in a similar way as PikeOS can be. Future certifications of PikeOS for MPU based solutions can therefore build on artifacts of PikeOS (Separation Kernel v. 5.1.3.) that is precertified against CC EAL 5+, SIL 4, DAL A and ASIL D.
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