IntervalZero Announces 4.0 Release Availability

May 03, 2020

Waltham, Mass. - May 4, 2020 - IntervalZero announced the general availability launch of RTX64 4.0. This software release includes architectural breakthroughs that enable RTX64 to deliver unsurpassed determinism for Industrial PC -based (IPC) machine controllers, especially in the context of real-time networking yet improves the ability to integrate with Windows applications directly on the controller.

Transforming Windows into a real-time operating system

IntervalZero RTX64 transforms Windows into a real-time operating system (RTOS). The RTX64 RTOS Platform streamlines and simplifies the development of complex, high-precision systems that require determinism. By leveraging x86 multi-core technology and symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) functionality, and by extending Microsoft Windows with the RTX64 real-time extension, the RTX64 RTOS Platform–an all software solution– significantly reduces and often eliminates the reliance on proprietary hardware such DSPs and FPGAs for real-time applications. Unlike other RTOSes, RTX64 supports the ability for Windows applications to execute directly on the machine controller and for these applications to directly communicate with the RTOS via shared memory for optimal performance.

New features of RTX64 4.0

This release provides several new features, usability improvements and resolved issues. The key new features in the RTX64 4.0 release are:

RTX64 4.0 implements a completely new local memory architecture
Integrates the previously standalone Network Abstraction Layer (NAL)
Re-architects the Virtual Network to provide a more robust connection and better performance

The new memory features are extremely valuable to support machine consolidation trends whereby multiple machines and controllers are often being consolidated into a single higher performing system or line control. With the new memory management features, each control application can execute with memory allocations that match its exact needs rather than relying on a general memory allocation for all processes. This way, each process can be masked to a local processor(s) with specified memory allocated in accordance with the demands of the process and the result is that each process can run optimally. By extension, the entire machine can run optimally because each controller process has the optimal memory allocation.

With new digital fieldbus technologies like EtherCAT, GigE vision and TSN, determinism requirements extend beyond the controller and onto then network. The NAL offers a robust deterministic network interface, which is the key to successfully building and connecting machines in the Industry 4.0 era. The new NAL easily supports multiple controllers on a single IPC so it simplifies the process of adding machine vision or a cobot control to an existing machine controller.

Finally, the new Virtual Network simplifies the integration of the RTX64 real-time processes with an HMI or a Windows process that uses networking protocols on the same system. This integration simplifies the user experience while providing more versatile options for how an application can be configured.

“We are particularly thrilled with this release because it allows our customers to protect their investments for the foreseeable future," said Terri Hawker, Vice President, Product Management. "RTX64 is now positioned as the ideal RTOS platform to address the growing demand for machine controller features related to Industry 4.0 and Internet of Things (IoT). This approach is in line with our platform strategy and helps our customers to consolidate dedicated systems into a single multi-core Industrial Windows PC–no need for FPGA, DSP or other proprietary hardware. This is an all software solution.”