Understanding RTOS use cases and features
An RTOS is specialized software that manages tasks with precise timing requirements, ensuring timely execution in embedded systems and applications. It is designed for applications where a predictable response time is critical, such as in robotics and industrial control systems (ICS).
To understand an RTOS, we will take an example of the approach that we have taken in this book of the “super loop architecture,” in which the main program consists of a continuous loop (a “super loop” or loop() function) that executes sequentially. This loop repeatedly performs tasks, checks conditions, and responds to events, as can be seen in Figure 9.1:
Figure 9.1 – Super loop architecture
In contrast, an RTOS allows for the concurrent execution of multiple tasks. In the case of a multi-core processor, true multitasking is achievable, as can be seen in Figure 9.2, while on a single-core processor...