COQOS

The standards-based software platform COQOS has introduced virtualization technology into the automotive world. It enables automotive manufacturers and their suppliers to integrate Linux or Android-bases systems as well as AUTOSAR-compliant software. It is based on the microkernel PikeOS that generates logical software partitions. In each of these partitions, functions fulfilling very different requirements can run independently from each other.

The virtualization technology in COQOS makes it possible, that even very complex systems can run in a partition. The operating system running within a partition doesn’t use the hardware physically but virtually. Guest operating systems such as Linux and Android make the power of open source available to automotive systems.

This system virtually eliminates mutual interference, because of the independence of each partition. Modular boot and fast boot technology ensure quick availability of critical functionality. Special drivers make it even possible to share hardware resources (like audio and video) between partitions.

Architecture of COQOS

The microkernel PikeOS has been applied in avionics for years. It has been certified according to the avionics safety standard DO-178B. TU-Berlin, the Institute FIRST Fraunhofer Society and the software company OpenSynergy have shown in a joint research project, that this safety standard is comparable to the new international automotive standard ISO 26262. The reuse of the microkernel from avionics in automotive provides a high degree of safety and security to all systems that run on COQOS.

Another essential element of COQOS is the AUTOSAR environment. This allows the seamless integration of AUTOSAR software components and basic software modules.

Supported hardware

Supported target processor architectures

ARM 9
ARM 11
ARM Cortex A8
ARM Cortex A9
Intel Atom
others

Target board support package

FreeScale i.MX35 PDK
FreeScale i.MX51 EVK
FreeScale i.MX53 EVK
FreeScale i.MX53 SABRE
FreeScale i.MX6Q SABRE
Russellville Reference Design Platform
(aka Congatec IVI)
Further support available on demand

Features

AUTOSAR Support of AUTOSAR Release 3.1 and selected features of AUTOSAR Release 4.0. The AUTOSAR OS, BSW Scheduler and RTE are closely integrated with COQOS. Standard AUTOSAR Basic-Software from the OEM, third-party software vendors or OpenSynergy can be easily integrated.

Guest OS (operating system) COQOS provides support for the following guest operating systems: • Linux 2.6.35 (newer kernel versions are supported in regular updates) • Android 2.3

Communication bridge COQOS supports the partitioning features and inter-partition communication mechanisms of AUTOSAR 4.0 and extends these with a configurable communication bridge between AUTOSAR and Linux.

Watchdog A configurable watchdog (in a separate partition) can observe the behavior of specific applications and take action when the system does not behave correctly.

Fast-boot and modular boot To satisfy the highest requirements on the fast availability of CAN-communication and specific applications, COQOS includes a fast-boot loader and a modular boot mechanism, which allows partitions to load and start sequentially.