Most of today’s safety-critical embedded software applications are comprised of three components: developer written application code, standard library components, and a real-time operating system (RTOS). Rolland Dudemaine, the Vice-President of Engineering at eSOL Europe, verifies that the latter piece is why compliance with safety standards, such as ISO 26262 for automotive, is so important.

The systems used in modern automotive, rail, industrial control, medical, and aerospace applications are, of course, incredibly complex and intricate. Given their safety-critical nature, ongoing reliable operation needs to be assured and the risk of prospective failures mitigated. It is therefore mandatory that these systems fully comply with established functional safety standards: ISO 26262, IEC 61508, or EN 50128, depending on the industry sector involved.