How does a RTOS like Green Hill Software's INTEGRITY RTOS integrate with automotive grade linux?

Question

I'm trying to understand the stack for automotive code - I know that Linux/Android can sit on top of it, and so I would presume AGL, but I'm uncertain of the distinction and what framework the RTOS provides as a platform.

Secondary point: Is Tizen, which AGL was originally based on, also an RTOS in the line of Integrity, or moreso just an OS? What is the difference between Tizen and Integrity; are they just competitors, or entirely different layers in the stack?

Answer 1

Architecturally the two bare little relationship.

INTEGRITY Multivisor uses virtualisation to run Linux (or other OS) as a guest OS in a virtual machine in parallel with INTEGRITY RTOS.

Tizen is a software stack on top of Linux, akin to Android or perhaps, given its web-app focus, more closely akin to ChromeOS.

Answer 2

Some background first:

• RTOSs for automotive Electronic Control Units (ECUs) follow specific standards like OSEK/VDX or AUTOSAR Classic. These are tiny and certified RTOSs for the safety-critical tasks (e.g. engine control, brake control, etc.). Some examples are Vector's MICROSAR or Evidence's ERIKA Enterprise.

• Recently, the automotive domain started looking to operating systems for additional activities like, for example, infotainment systems. The work carried out by AUTOSAR Adaptive as well as the GENIVI association goes towards this direction. These systems can be based on the Linux kernel (e.g. Tizen, Android, etc.)

• Even more recently, the automotive industry started looking to hypervisor-based solutions for running both systems in parallel on the same electronics. There are some commercial hypervisors, as well as some open-source ones (e.g. Jailhouse, Xen). You might be interested in reading this whitepaper by AGL. Note that if you are looking for a fully open-source stack, you can run Linux alongside the ERIKA RTOS on the Jailhouse hypervisor on modern SoCs, as explained here.

Now, to answer your specific question: Tizen belongs to the second category (i.e. infotainment), while Integrity to the first category (although GreenHills can also provide a commercial hypervisor as mentioned in the existing answer).