ISSAQUAH, USA: McObject announced it is now offering its eXtremeDB in-memory embedded database system for VxWorks 653, Wind River Systems' real-time operating system (RTOS) for controlling complex ARINC 653 Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) systems.

Today's airborne systems manage, report, and rely on, tremendous volumes of data, including navigation, system status, weather, targeting, weapons, and other categories. This presents a multi-faceted challenge to developers.

What is In-memory database system?

In addition to requiring near-zero latency, an embedded database for avionics must support development processes tied to the industry's safety imperative, and provide tools to address growing data complexity. It must ensure reliability at the programmatic level for memory allocation and error handling, added release.

"McObject's eXtremeDB embedded database for the VxWorks 653 RTOS represents an important expansion of avionics software developers available tools. An in-memory database system (IMDS) meets the industry's performance and predictability requirements, and McObject's IMDS offers an especially rich set of features for military and aerospace development," states Rob Hoffman, vice president and general manager, Aerospace and Defense Business Unit at Wind River.

In-Memory vs. On-Disk Database Systems

eXtremeDB technical strengths that will accelerate its adoption on VxWorks 653 include the following:

In-memory responsiveness. In many aerospace applications, vibrations and high-gee conditions largely disqualify the use of conventional disks due to likely mechanical disruption. eXtremeDB is designed to operate entirely in main memory. In addition to providing stability, this eliminates disk access, caching and other overhead, to deliver fast and predictable performance far exceeding even solid-state disk drives.

Prioritization. Traditional databases use simple FIFO techniques to grant database access. In contrast, eXtremeDB enables developers to prioritize selected transactions, complementing features for determinism at the VxWorks 653 RTOS level.

IBLL support. eXtremeDB supports VxWorks 653's IBLL (independent build, independent link, independent load) characteristic, a key requirement of any IMA environment that needs to support multiple application groups or third-party hosted function suppliers, delivering software builds asynchronously.

No dynamic memory allocation. In keeping with DO-178B requirements, and to provide greater stability, eXtremeDB eliminates dynamic allocation.  Developers can use the in-memory database in lieu of it, reaping the flexibility and other benefits of dynamic memory allocation without the attendant risks that rule out its use in safety-critical systems.

Type-safe interface. Most database and middleware application programming interfaces (API) functions are based on void pointers, which C/C++ compilers cannot validate. eXtremeDB eliminates a major source of post-deployment defects with a specialized API that avoids void pointers and causes the compiler to reject code with data typing errors.

Efficient data indexing. The time required to update a battlefield map, or to generate new GPS coordinates for tracked objects, is obviously critical. The right data index significantly improves performance. Where other databases offer only the generic B-tree index, eXtremeDB offers R-trees for GIS/mapping and many other specialized index types.

"Wind River is a long-time McObject partner. Our eXtremeDB for VxWorks 653 strengthens the relationship by providing a powerful new tool in a market that is critical for both companies. We look forward to working closely with Wind River to promote our combined solution," said Chris Mureen, chief operating officer, McObject.