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RTOS for an 8-bit microcontroller?

vandana

We are starting a new product that we know will grow into a 32-bit implementation down the road and will want to reuse the software on this project. Does anyone have experience with an RTOS in an 8-bit design (Microchip, TI or Freescale) that can make a recommendation?

  • 0

    RTOSes are not nearly as common in the 8-bit world as they are amongst users of 32-bit MCUs, but I've observed plenty of developers whose 8-bit projects have benefited from an RTOS and especially from a real-time kernel.  Silicon providers are packing more and more features and peripherals into their 8-bit parts, and all of this extra hardware makes an RTOS more appealing.  Developers who choose to run an RTOS on an 8-bit MCU have a means of managing different peripheral devices, and, as you implied, the RTOS provides them with a platform that they can reuse even if they migrate to higher-performance parts.

     

    Micrium offers small-footprint RTOS components that have been run on practically every 8-bit architecture in wide use today.  The centerpieces of these components are the well-known real-time kernels uC/OS-II and uC/OS-III.  Each kernel offers a small memory footprint (as little as 6 kBytes of code space and 2 kBytes of data) and a straightforward structure that is well suited to 8-bit systems.  You could use one of these kernels alone in your 8-bit project, or, if sufficient memory is available, you could add other components, like the uC/FS file system, for increased functionality.

  • 0

    You can try Salvo RTOS. Salvo is available for

    • 8051 family and its derivatives
    • ARMRegistered              ARM7TDMIRegistered and CortexTm-M3
    • AtmelRegistered              AVRRegistered and MegaAVRTm
    • Epson              S1C17 family
    • Motorola              M68HC11
    • TI's              MSP430 Ultra-Low Power Microcontroller
    • Microchip              PIC12|14000|16|17|18 PICmicroRegistered MCUs
    • Microchip              PIC24 MCUs and dsPICRegistered DSCs
    • Microchip              PIC32Tm MCUs
    • TI's              TMS320C2000 DSPs
    for more info check http://www.pumpkininc.com/
    Hope this helps
    Regards
  • 0 in reply to Former Member

    There are plenty. However,you are probably interested in those which are available not only for 8-bit but for "higher" (16-bit, 32-bit) devices as well. For example:

    FreeRTOS

    PICOS18

    uC/OS-II

    CMX RTOS

    etc.

  • 0

    Hello,

     

    You seem to be mixing up a few different issues here.

    If you see the need to migrate to 32 bit why not start with a 32 bit micro - you can get ARM Cortex 3 parts from 50p. If you choose a part form a large family (eg ST, NXP or TI) the peripherals can stay the same up to quite powerful parts.

    You can re-use your code if you write it suitably with or without an RTOS.

    Before choosing an RTOS (or if to use one at all) you need to set out what you want it to do for you and don't forget that you will pay a price in performance (and time/money) for every feature.

     

    Michael Kellett