PikeOS meets GR740: A New Standard for Space Safety and Security

(Klein-Winternheim, Germany, and Gothenburg, Sweden, November 14, 2024) – SYSGO, the leading European provider of real-time operating systems (RTOS) for safety and security-critical embedded applications, and Frontgrade Gaisler, a world leader in embedded computer systems for space and harsh environments, are proud to announce the integration of SYSGO’s PikeOS RTOS on the Frontgrade Gaisler GR740 microprocessor. This collaboration will bring robust, certifiable, and scalable technology solutions tailored to meet the rigorous demands of the space market.

The GR740 device, a radiation-hardened system-on-chip featuring a quad-core fault-tolerant LEON4 SPARC V8 processor, stands as the gold standard in space computing. Known for its mixed-criticality support, fault tolerance, and high-performance processing capabilities, Frontgrade Gaisler’s GR740 is widely used in space applications where reliability is paramount. The GR740's new screening options add flexible, cost-efficient solutions in plastic package variants and further empowers developers to leverage this proven microprocessor for Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, New Space applications, and high-reliability missions.

The integration of PikeOS on the dedicated GR740-MINI evaluation platform marks a significant advancement in space-grade safety and security. PikeOS’s Platform Support Package (PSP) is now fully compatible with the GR740 architecture, and combined with SYSGO's certification expertise, it provides the foundation for software development that adheres to the highest safety (ECSS category A) and security (Common Criteria EAL 5+) standards.

Key Features of the Joint Solution

  • Advanced Debugging & Development Tools: The solution includes SYSGO’s CODEO Integrated Development Environment (IDE) as the primary debug environment, complemented by Frontgrade Gaisler’s GRMON3 system debugger and TSIM3 simulator for the GR740. This unified toolchain ensures efficient and streamlined development, simulation, and debugging.

  • Support for Mixed-Criticality Applications: This integration supports both Symmetric and Asymmetric Multi-Processing (SMP and AMP) architectures, enabling flexible and secure deployment for space missions that require mixed-criticality handling.

  • RISC-V and SPARC Support: Both SYSGO and Frontgrade Gaisler are active contributors to the RISC-V ecosystem and maintain their commitment to SPARC technology, driving innovation in space computing architectures.

  • European-Certified Platform: This new joint offering is fully aligned with European Space Agency (ESA) requirements under European export license, supporting long-term sustainability and security for critical space missions.

A New Era for Space-Certified Solutions

With this collaboration, SYSGO and Frontgrade Gaisler are setting new standards for secure and certifiable space-grade computing. PikeOS, with its separation kernel architecture, enables secure and efficient consolidation of mixed-criticality workloads, a crucial requirement for satellite and manned space applications. The GR740, with its radiation-hardness, fault-tolerance and robust capabilities, ensures flexibility and reliability for satellite constellations and next-generation space technologies.

“Our collaboration with Frontgrade Gaisler reflects our commitment to the space industry,” said Franz Walkembach, VP of Marketing & Product Strategy at SYSGO. “By integrating PikeOS with the GR740 processor, we are delivering a robust, certifiable solution that addresses the critical needs of satellite and space-based applications, while also reducing development time and cost of ownership.”

“Frontgrade Gaisler’s GR740 microprocessor is the backbone of many space missions,” added Sandi Habinc, General Manager at Frontgrade Gaisler. “By integrating SYSGO’s PikeOS, we are enhancing the ecosystem around our GR740 and providing mission designers with a comprehensive, high-performance environment to build reliable, fault-tolerant systems for the most demanding space conditions.”

See our Mission-Ready Technology for the New Space Economy

We warmly invite you to experience our joint technology in action. Visit us at the Space Tech Expo in Bremen, from November 19-21, 2024, at Frontgrade's Booth N31. Discover firsthand how the integration of PikeOS on the GR740-MINI evaluation platform is revolutionizing space computing with unparalleled safety, security, and performance. 

About Frontgrade Gaisler

Frontgrade Gaisler, a Frontgrade company, is a leading provider of radiation-hardened microprocessors and IP cores for critical applications, particularly in the space industry. The company's processors are known for their reliability, fault tolerance, and radiation tolerance, making them ideal for any space mission or other high-reliability application. 

About Frontgrade

Frontgrade Technologies is the leading provider of high reliability and radiation-assured solutions for defense, space, intelligence, commercial, and civil applications. The company’s product portfolio is designed to perform in the harshest of environments and includes a complementary and integrated suite of mission-matched electronics ranging from radio frequency (RF) systems and microelectronics to motion control and power solutions. For more information, visit frontgrade.com. 

About SYSGO

SYSGO is the leading European manufacturer of embedded software solutions such as the real-time operating system and hypervisor PikeOS and the embedded industrial-grade Linux ELinOS. Since 1991, SYSGO has been supporting customers in the Aerospace, Automotive, Railway and IIoT industries in the development of Safety-critical applications. SYSGO was the first company worldwide to achieve the Safety requirement level SIL 4 for its multi-core capable real-time operating system and hypervisor PikeOS. PikeOS version 5.1.3 meets the Common Criteria at the level EAL 5+ for ARMv8, x86_64, and PPC and is also certified according to the strictest Safety standards such as IEC 61508, EN 50128, EN 50657, and ISO 26262, and has also been certified many times at the highest level according to DO-178C and ECSS-E-ST-40C, enabling application development in line with the "Safe & Secure by Design" principle. For industrial embedded systems, SYSGO also offers ELinOS, a Linux distribution with real-time extensions for embedded systems. Furthermore, solutions such as the Railway development platform (SAFe-VX) and the Secure Automotive Connectivity Platform (SACoP) for secure data transfer in, with and between automobiles are available.

SYSGO works closely with its customers throughout the entire product life cycle and supports them in the formal certification of software according to international standards for functional and IT Security. SYSGO is headquartered in Klein-Winternheim near Frankfurt, has subsidiaries in France and the Czech Republic and maintains a worldwide sales network. The company is ISO 9001:2015 and IEC/ISO 27001:2017 certified and part of the European Thales Group.

More information at www.sysgo.com

 

Media Contact
Liz Ryan Sax
Frontgrade Technologies
+1 (719) 487-4259
press@frontgrade.com