TI unveils new RTOS for MCUs

Texas Instruments has unveiled its complete real-time operating system, the TI-RTOS. The real time operating system provides developers an embedded software and tools ecosystem. With support for entire portfolio of MCUs from TI, the OS allows users to scale designs to update or add functionality across several versions of MCUs. TI has integrated its SYS/BIOS II kernel with network developer kit (NDK) TCP/IP stack on the TI-RTOS, which it claims will reduce the burden on designers from having to write and maintain complex software such as schedulers, protocol stack ans low-level drivers.                  

Scott Roller, VP, MCUs, TI said, “Embedded hardware development has become easier with the high level of integration MCUs now have. However, because of the integration of more peripherals, memory and connectivity options, software development has become more complex, which is why we created TI-RTOS. Now developers can build MCU-based designs with Internet and USB connectivity without the concern that software development will be onerous and time-consuming.”

The TI-RTOS is based on a preemptive multithreading kernel and offers full middleware and driver enablement to add more product functionality. It includes stacks and drivers for ethernet, USB, UART, I2C and SD standards for communication. It also has a FAT compatible file system which is fully integrated with C RTS file I/O functions. It is available in a modular structure which enables designers to remove part of the software that is not required in their application, allowing them to save memory.

The RTOS is fully integrated with the Code Composer Studio IDE and supports boards and development kits like the MCU Launchpads.

TI-RTOS is available now on select devices, including ARM Cortex-M4 MCUs and C2000 dual core C28x + ARM Cortex-M3 MCUs. It will be offered soon on MSP430 MCUs, as well as other C2000 and ARM-based MCUs.