VxWorks: A Journey of Innovation
From ensuring the safety of life-support devices to guiding spacecraft for interstellar exploration, Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) form the core foundation of modern embedded systems. In this field, Wind River’s VxWorks has consistently led the wave of innovation, continuously adapting to the increasingly complex and diverse industry demands.
Outstanding Performance, Trusted Reliability
VxWorks guarantees systems with deterministic behavior: consistent inputs, stable outputs, and controllable response times. This characteristic makes it widely used in critical mission scenarios ranging from advanced driver-assistance systems to Mars rovers, from robotic surgeries to aerial defense.
As embedded systems evolve from isolated architectures to highly connected smart edge systems, VxWorks keeps pace with the times, introducing cutting-edge features without sacrificing its real-time reliability.
Technological Innovation Across the Stack
AI and Machine Learning at the Edge
Data intelligence, once limited to the cloud, can now be realized on edge devices. VxWorks provides the following libraries to support rapid deployment:
- • NumPy (2020) and Pandas (2021): Data processing
- • TensorFlow Lite (2021): Lightweight machine learning model deployment
This enables developers to implement applications such as image recognition, predictive vehicle maintenance, and intelligent medical diagnostics at the edge.
Support for Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN)
Traditional Ethernet connections struggle to meet real-time requirements. Since 2016, VxWorks has supported IEEE TSN, bringing the following features:
- • Time synchronization
- • Bounded latency
- • Deterministic data transmission
Currently supports Intel® and Arm® architectures, and can run in virtual machines on the Wind River Helix™ Virtualization Platform, verified with no performance loss (2024).
💡 In 2020, VxWorks further integrated the open62541 OPC UA over TSN protocol stack, advancing the Industry 4.0 process.
Certification and Multicore Parallel Capability
More Efficient Functional Safety Certification
VxWorks provides a wealth of pre-certified components supporting the following safety standards:
- • Aerospace: DO-178C DAL A
- • Automotive: ISO 26262 ASIL D
- • Medical: IEC 62304 Class C
- • Industrial: IEC 61508 SIL 3
Over 600 certification projects have been completed, and in collaboration with Rapita Systems, a white paper on multicore interference mitigation technology has been published, providing strong assurance for the design of safety-critical systems.
Support for Multicore and 64-bit Architectures
Since 2014, VxWorks has supported multicore processors and 64-bit architectures, maintaining low system overhead and deterministic behavior despite changes in core counts.
Empowering Developers for Efficiency
Rich BSP Support
VxWorks supports mainstream architectures: Arm, RISC-V, x86, PPC, and since 2020, it has supported the open architecture RISC-V, reducing licensing costs. Wind River offers customized BSP services to meet the needs of different hardware platforms.
Support for Modern Programming Languages
To adapt to modular and rapid development needs, VxWorks has increased language support:
- • Python (2020): Rapid development and scripting integration
- • Rust (2019): Memory safety, concurrency-friendly
- • GNAT Pro for Rust (2024): Enhanced Rust support in collaboration with AdaCore
DevSecOps and Cloud Development Integration
In 2021, Wind River Studio Developer was launched, making VxWorks the first RTOS to support a complete DevSecOps toolchain, achieving:
- • Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
- • Cloud testing and debugging
- • Secure deployment and remote updates
Support for Containers and Kubernetes
In terms of containerization, VxWorks is also leading the industry:
- • 2021: Support for OCI container technology
- • 2023: Integration of Kubernetes container orchestration
This brings standardized workflows and higher deployment efficiency to embedded development teams.
Security First, Building Defenses
Since 2022, Wind River has adopted a security development lifecycle (SDL) process based on NIST SP 800-218 (SSDF). Through the Security Center, CVE tracking and mitigation support are provided to ensure product security throughout its lifecycle.
Looking to the Future
As the development of AI, TSN, functional safety, and multicore architectures continues to accelerate, VxWorks will continue to lead the evolution of embedded systems, becoming a solid pillar in the era of smart edge.
Whether you are building the next generation of medical devices, smart vehicles, or aerospace systems, at critical moments, running on VxWorks.
Reference Links
- • VxWorks Product Homepage
- • Wind River Studio Developer
- • Multicore Interference Mitigation White Paper
- • TSN Technology White Paper