Conclusion and Outlook

Abstract

This work has introduced several new concepts for the design of multi-processor systems in embedded designs, which rely on hardware virtualization. By exploiting a hardware-based virtualization concept, design flows for a variety of use cases, which span from highly reliable to parallel executable systems, are covered. In particular, the Agile Processing scheme allows the transparent switch between sequential and parallel execution of tasks, whereas the degree of parallelization can be scaled dynamically. Resolving the usually static task-processor bindings and keeping task memories strictly disjoint enables features known from software-managed operating systems without abandoning the requirements, which are often crucial for embedded systems: Predictable execution times, strict memory separation for safety reasons, and the availability of fault detection and fault recovery mechanisms, just to name a few.