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12 Platform one February/March 2016 | Unmanned Systems Technology Software developer Wind River is adapting its real-time operating system (RTOS) for autonomous systems. The VxWorks RTOS is being used in Helix Drive, a new software platform from Wind River for highly automated driving (HAD) that complies with automotive safety and security standards. Helix Drive is combined with Helix Cockpit, which provides user interface technologies based on the Linux operating system, as well as cloud-based infotainment technologies, in a system called Helix Chassis. “We created Helix Chassis to make it easier for OEMs to bring together all the technologies they need,” said Kumar Senthil, the company’s product line manager for driver safety and security products. “It is basically a new real-time platform using VxWorks which we want to position for easier development of automated driving systems. It’s a way to bring together all the different assets that Wind River has built up to be able to create a seamless transition of data.” Helix Drive provides car makers and tier 1 suppliers with an ISO 26262- certifiable platform for automotive safety- critical applications, including HAD systems, with the RTOS providing up to 255 separate partitions for individual software applications. This allows the different applications to run without affecting others, and the software is certifiable to the highest Automotive Safety Integrity Level. The security elements of the software comply with the IEC 15408 Common Criteria standard to protect vehicle functions from unauthorised access and attacks, including prevention of tampering or execution of unauthorised code, using Intel’s Trusted Platform Module and ARM’s TrustZone secure boot. Helix Drive also uses the Data Distribution Services (DDS) protocol for low-latency data connectivity, and the MQ Telemetry Transport object-based protocol used for cloud servers to abstract and streamline data collection across the different drivetrain systems and fuse this with sensor data. This allows the data to be sent to the cloud from a vehicle without having to be converted. Wind River has also teamed up with Ricardo to help integrate these technologies into automated vehicles. Helix Drive will be available for use in production platforms later this year. Safe and secure in real time Vehicle safety Wind River’s Helix Chassis system embraces a range of its technologies for highly automated driving The platform is aimed at making it easier to develop automated driving systems, to be able to create a seamless transition of data