Metrowerks to Deliver Automotive Development Solutions Based on OSEK Real-Time Operating System
15 November 2000
Metrowerks to Deliver Automotive Development Solutions Based on OSEK Real-Time Operating System
AUSTIN, Texas--Nov. 15, 2000--Metrowerks is moving into the automotive market with support for OSEK, an open architecture used for electronic control units in vehicles.
The company plans to distribute and drive design for the OSEK real-time operating system (RTOS) developed by its parent company, Motorola.
Metrowerks will incorporate the Motorola OSEK-compliant operating system into its CodeWarrior(R) development tools offering and will assume marketing, sales and development responsibility. OSEK is used by several major European automakers, including DaimlerChrysler and BMW AG, and is now gaining acceptance in the United States and Asia.
"Making an OSEK-compliant operating system part of our product offerings allows us to deliver added value to developers targeting the automotive and transportation market," said David Perkins, president and CEO, Metrowerks.
"Furthermore, the ability to provide an operating system for the automotive market along with our development tools is a significant step towards providing developers solutions that will help speed their time to market."
"The diverse intelligent platforms that comprise automotive solutions are a complex composite of 8-, 16- and 32-bit processors," said Paul Zorfass, senior embedded analyst with IDC/First Technology Inc.
"With the Metrowerks acquisition of 8- and 16-bit tools provider HIWARE AG earlier this year and its decision to integrate its OSEK-compliant RTOS and tools offerings, Metrowerks is clearly targeting the automotive industry with broad-based solutions to meet the specific and differing needs of this key business sector."
OSEK integration with CodeWarrior will bring kernel awareness of debuggers and simulators to the OSEK operating system, using the OSEK Runtime Interface (ORTI) specification developed by Motorola, as well as advanced configuration of OSEK-compliant applications and integration with design, modeling and analysis tools.
In addition, Metrowerks will continue to develop partnerships with other leading tool vendors to provide OSEK-compliant solutions covering all stages of development, and will assume a prominent role in the OSEK consortium.
Prior to assuming responsibility for the Motorola OSEK operating system, Metrowerks was actively involved in defining standards for the ORTI specification.
Tools for the Automotive Industry
With support for the Motorola OSEK operating system, Metrowerks has added another piece of technology that will help address the automotive industry. In addition to the CodeWarrior Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and development tools targeted at 32-bit processors, Metrowerks' acquisition of Basel, Switzerland-based HIWARE AG (now Metrowerks Europe) in July 2000 provides Metrowerks with tools and evaluation boards to support automotive customers.
Availability
The Motorola OSEK operating system is available today for the following targets: HC08, HC12, 683xx, MCore and Motorola PowerPC. Tools supporting these targets are also part of Metrowerks' product offerings. Early next year, Metrowerks will announce support for additional cores that will enable developers to cover the range of embedded platforms used in vehicles.
About OSEK
OSEK (Open Systems and the Corresponding Interfaces for Automotive Electronics), is a consortium of automobile manufacturers and suppliers, including BMW AG, DaimlerChrysler, Volkswagen AG, Adam Opel AG, PSA, Renault, Robert Bosch GmbH, and Siemens AG. The goal of OSEK is to create an industry standard for an open architecture for electronic control units in vehicles addressing the issues of portability, reuse and system integration.
About Metrowerks
Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Metrowerks develops, markets and supports CodeWarrior software development solutions for a number of operating systems and the most popular microprocessors. CodeWarrior allows programmers to build applications from one unique integrated development environment (IDE). Metrowerks' CodeWarrior products are used by more than 250,000 developers worldwide. In September of 1999, Metrowerks became an independently operating subsidiary of Motorola Inc. For more information, please visit the Metrowerks Web site at http://www.metrowerks.com.
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