Embedded Systems: December 21, 1995

Software speeds floating-point computations. The SuperSpeed SCP32 "soft co-processor" is a set of floating-point routines for embedded 32-bit RISC processors. Using exponential floating-point computation, the SCP32 performs tough nonlinear computations 10 to 100× faster than conventional floating-point methods. It comes in two architectures: The M version provides seven-decimal-place precision; the N version offers trade-offs between decimal-place precision and look-up-table memory size with little or no effect on speed. A single-execution developer’s license costs $135. Log Point Technologies Inc, Mountain View, CA. (415) 967-3974.

Debugger tackles Posix, Unix applications. The PosixWorks family of development tools provides complex debugging of embedded real-time applications across multiple platforms in a Posix- or Unix-networked environment. Based on the LynxOS real-time operating system, PosixWorks handles multiple concurrent processes, each of which may contain one or more threads. It targets Intel X86, Motorola 68040/060 and Power PC 601/603/604, and MicroSPARC/II platforms. Prices range from $9500 to $11,500. Lynx Real-Time Systems Inc, San Jose, CA. (408) 879-3900.

Modeling tool performs rate monotonic scheduling. The Prototyping Environment for Real-Time Systems (PERTS) now comes in Microsoft NT and IBM 6000 AIX versions. Using-rate monotonic analysis, the modeling tool guarantees the performance and schedulability of any real-time embedded application, including networks, flight control, and automotive systems. Single-user licensing fees start at $3500 and $5000 for the NT and Unix versions, respectively. Tri-Pacific Consulting Corp, Alameda, CA. (510) 814-1775.

Interface boards link PC AT to ARINC 429/629. Two Aeronautical Radio Inc (ARINC) interface cards let you develop, debug, test, and maintain commercial avionics systems using a PC AT. You can configure the half-sized ARINC 429 card (DD-429XRP5) with one or two transmit channels and two or four receive channels, and the full-sized version (DD-429XRP1) offers one, two, four, or eight transmit channels and two or four receive channels. The full-sized ARINC 629 card (DD-62930PA) is a full-featured interface between the host and the 629 data bus. Prices range from $3000 to $5500 for the 429 and from $5000 to $7000 for the 629. ILC Data Device Corp, Bohemia, NY. (516) 567-5600.

System develops motor-control applications. Based on a single-board computer equipped with a TMS320C52 DSP rated at 40 MIPS, the Motor Development System provides the electronics to interface with ac and dc motors. An embedded scan-path emulator and debugger permit high-level-language program development. The DSP controller, power amplifier, and power supply come in an industrial, rack-mounted enclosure. The system costs $7995. Spectrum Digital Inc, Sugar Land, TX. (713) 561-6952.

Free demo of PDOS multitasking debugger. Eyring is offering a free demo disk of its PDOS InSpector, a Windows-oriented multitasking debugger for 68K embedded applications. PDOS InSpector works with the PDOS real-time operating system and allows simultaneous debugging of multiple tasks on multiple targets. Eyring Corp, Midvale, UT. (801) 561-1111.

Computer board and servers put Alpha power on VMEbus. A VMEbus single-board computer and three symmetric multiprocessing servers are based on the Alpha 64-bit RISC CPU. The AXPvme 230 computer board offers performance ratings of 95 SPECfp92 and 82 SPECint92 at 231 MHz, along with serial, Ethernet, and SCSI-2 I/O capabilities. VME 2100 servers also offer high speed—up to 1640 SPECfp92 with four CPUs—and a 667-Mbyte/sec private CPU-memory backplane. The servers come with a PCI-to-VME adapter in 233-, 250-, and 275-MHz versions costing $34,980, $58,960, and $48,960, respectively. The AXPvme 230 costs $5995. Digital Equipment Corp, Marlborough, MA. (800) 332-2717.

Fault-tolerant real-time kernel ports to PowerPC. OSE Delta, a distributed real-time operating system for embedded nonstop and fault-tolerant systems, now supports the PowerPC MPC821 and MPC860 µPs. This full implementation of the OSE Delta kernel includes such features as dynamic memory management, integrated error handling, and automatic supervision of processes. You can easily port applications based on OSE for 68xxx µPs to the PowerPC environment. Prices start at $6000. ENEA Data AB, Taby, Sweden. +46 8 638 50 00.

Pentium-based computer board rides VMEbus. Harnessing the power of the Pentium processor for VMEbus environments, the VMIVME-7587 offers versions of the CPU running at 75, 90, 100, 120, and 133 MHz. The board also features up to 64 Mbytes of extended-data-out DRAM, hard- and floppy-disk drive controllers, two serial ports, a parallel port, PS/2-style keyboard and mouse ports on the front panel, and a PCI bus mezzanine expansion site. The Pentium-based VMIVME-7587 is compatible with the installed base of applications for Windows, Windows NT, Windows 95, DOS, OS/2, and Unix software for the PC/AT architecture. Prices range from $4172 to $9546. VME Microsystems International Corp, Huntsville, AL. (205) 880-0444.