Multicore processors and hard real-time applications: Mixing oil and water

This presentation is part of the Device Security by Design Series.

Watch the video (below) presented by Mark Pitchford, Technical Specialist at LDRA.

You can download the PDF presentation and leave comments or questions below. 

For a single core, the calculation of worst-case execution times (WCET) using static analysis alone can only be an estimate. That problem is exacerbated when more cores are involved, where shared resources such as memory and caches further degrade the theoretical calculation. In an environment where precise timing can mean life or death, approximations do not sit comfortably.

The most demanding execution paths in the code base can be identified precisely using static analysis. This session will argue that leveraging such information in conjunction with the dynamic measurement of WCET presents the most pragmatic approach to achieving the assurances demanded across the safety-critical sectors, including the CAST-32A & A(M)C 20-193 objectives in civil aviation.

Mark Pitchford is a technical specialist at LDRA. He has over 30 years of experience in software development for engineering applications. He has worked on many significant industrial and commercial projects in development and management, both in the UK and internationally. Since 2001, he has worked with development teams looking to achieve compliant software development in safety- and security-critical environments, working with standards such as DO-178, IEC 61508, ISO 26262, IIRA, and RAMI 4.0.