Manufacturers today face the challenge of producing increasingly complex systems that maximize production uptime, minimize risks, and reduce costs. In fact, today’s software must be reusable across multiple product lines and enable manufacturers to create complex connected systems that run non-stop and remain in-field for a very long time.

Why customers choose QNX

QNX Software Systems offers a comprehensive portfolio of industrial solutions for addressing today’s challenges – be it a mission-critical wind-turbine controller, a distributed and connected platform on a factory floor, or a user-centric POS device with a rich HMI. Our unique field-proven industrial platform, deep embedded experience, and industry-leading reliability enable you to create custom solutions with low BOM, development, and maintenance costs. Our robust partner ecosystem and experienced services practice help you speed up and build out solutions as needed. And our strategic certification programs ensure your solutions meet even the most stringent of industry standards.

• Technology — the QNX industrial software architecture
• Certifications — SIL 3, EAL 4+, ISO and others
• Ecosystem — silicon, protocols, tools and more
• Services — everything from training through consulting to development

Here’s how you’ll benefit

• Dramatically reduce your development risks by partnering with the embedded industry leader – QNX Software Systems has more production experience than any other supplier and a long-standing history of multi-year uptimes
• Measurably improve your bottom line by using advanced tooling for rapid development and minimal in-field maintenance
• Maximize production uptime with a high-availability framework, industry-leading reliability, and dynamic in-field upgradeability
• Leverage development skills and software assets across multiple products with standards-based technology (POSIX, etc) and a modular architecture

The QNX industrial software architecture provides the most complete industrial software platform available today. It offers unprecedented scalability – from a deeply embedded real-time device to a massively distributed system with hundreds of nodes – while satisfying a full range of UI requirements. With nearly 30 years of field-proven reliability in the harshest industrial environments, the QNX industrial software architecture is the foundation you can trust for your next design.

Tools

Integrated development environment

The QNX Momentics Tool Suite is the industry’s most advanced IDE for real-time development. It offers a full spectrum of tools for development, debugging, and analyzing the most sophisticated industrial systems on the market today. The system profiler in particular is highly valued by industrial application designers to dynamically analyze complex systems in real time for optimal system-level design.

See also: QNX Momentics Tool Suite

Graphics / HMI

Advanced HMI

For the most advanced industrial user interfaces, QNX Software Systems supports HMIs based on Adobe Flash Lite 3 and the OpenKODE API. These advanced HMI technologies provide the ability to create content-rich HMIs typically targeted for industrial applications with consumer interaction such as automated ticketing systems, point-of-sale devices, digital signage, and security systems.

See also: QNX Aviage HMI Suite

Core graphics

The advanced graphics framework provides the base foundation upon which all other QNX graphics technologies are built. It provides the framework for controlling the simplest to the most complex graphics chips and provides interfaces to support 2D (raster and OpenVG) and 3D (OpenGL ES), layer control, video capture, advanced fonts, and image library – specifically optimized for embedded systems.

See also: QNX advanced graphics

2D raster graphics and windowing

The QNX Photon microGUI and application builder use point-and-click simplicity to help industrial designers quickly and easily create a wide range of customized graphical user interfaces on all hardware platforms – from tiny embedded handheld devices through HMI panels to full windowing desktop systems. Both are tightly coupled with the QNX Neutrino Realtime OS for optimized performance.

See also: QNX Photon microGUI, QNX Photon Application Builder

Middleware

Media rendering

Media capabilities are becoming increasingly important in industrial applications, especially in systems that provide a rich user experience. QNX Software Systems has support for a wide range of middleware technologies (including audio and video codecs) and data streaming for applications such as network security cameras.

See also: QNX Aviage Multimedia Suite

Browsers

For industrial applications that require a browser, QNX Software Systems supports Webkit.

Web servers

For remote monitoring of industrial devices, QNX Software Systems supports a tiny embedded HTTP 1.1 web server that supports CGI 1.1, authentication, and dynamic HTML. A port is also available for the industry-standard Apache web server that accommodates higher performance systems.

OS services

File systems

QNX Software Systems supports a wide range of block and flash file system formats. Industrial designers value the reliability and security of our power-safe disk file system for guaranteed data integrity even under extreme conditions. Our NOR and NAND flash file systems provide enhanced features such as a standard POSIX interface, fault tolerance to power failures, and wear leveling for extended part lifetime.

See also: QNX Neutrino RTOS File Systems

High availability

Most industrial systems require a higher degree of reliability than consumer or business systems due to their mission-critical nature, safety concerns, and sensitivity to downtime costs. For maximum uptime, the QNX high availability framework provides critical process monitoring and restarts without the need to reboot.

See also: QNX Neutrino RTOS High Availability

Adaptive Partitioning

For industrial systems that are subject to bursts of high activity or need to safely contain third-party software, QNX adaptive partitioning technology provides the ability to set CPU time guarantees while optimizing system performance.

See also: QNX Neutrino RTOS Adaptive Partitioning

Networking

Industrial designs are becoming more distributed with wired and wireless connectivity between devices and between devices, the control hub, and the enterprise. QNX Software Systems offers one of the most comprehensive networking solutions for an embeddable RTOS with capabilities typically reserved for desktops and servers. Our native distributed processing supports complex distributed systems in which multiple devices seamlessly share resources and communicate without custom protocols.

The QNX partner ecosystem offers standard networking protocols as well as a wide range of industrial and Ethernet protocols.

See also: QNX Neutrino RTOS Networking

Core OS

Core operating system

The foundation for any complex industrial software is the realtime operating system. The QNX Neutrino RTOS is designed specifically to meet the most demanding reliability and performance requirements. The microkernel architecture incorporates only the core functionality into a tiny, well-tested kernel while leaving drivers, networking stacks, and other services outside in memory protected space. Because these components resided outside of the kernel, a higher degree of determinism and fault-tolerance can be achieved.

See also: QNX Neutrino RTOS

Safety, security, reliability, portability. These values lie at the very core of the QNX industrial software architecture; they also form the foundation for certifications critical to many industrial products. To demonstrate its commitment to industrial automation customers, QNX Software Systems has undertaken several strategic certification programs. These programs help customers reduce costs, improve time to market, and maximize reusability of software assets.

IEC Safety Integrity Level (SIL 3)

QNX Software Systems is in the process of certifying the QNX® Neutrino® RTOS to the International Electrotechnical Commission
standard 61508 Safety Integrity Level 3 (SIL 3). Demand for SIL 3 certification is growing in many sectors, including transportation, energy, and aerospace.

Common Criteria Security Certification (EAL 4+)

The QNX Neutrino RTOS Secure Kernel is certified to the stringent requirements of the Common Criteria ISO/IEC 15408 Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL) 4+. The certification applies not only to the RTOS kernel, but also to its highly advanced multi-core and secure partitioning technology.

ISO 9001:2000

The QNX management system is certified to the ISO 9001:2000 standard. Auditors have certified the processes and systems governing the design and development of QNX software, as well as the provision of related support services.

POSIX PSE52 Realtime Controller 1003.13-2003

The QNX® Neutrino® RTOS has been certified to the POSIX PSE52 Realtime Controller 1003.13-2003 System product standard, confirming that it provides both the code portability and the realtime determinism needed for an array of industrial systems. The QNX Neutrino RTOS also supports hundreds of other POSIX 1003.1 commands, utilities, and programming interfaces.

OpenGL ES

Graphically rich human machine interfaces (HMIs) are playing a larger role in industrial automation. To help customers reduce costs and create portable, cross-platform HMIs, the QNX industrial software architecture includes a certified conformant implementation of OpenGL ES, the standard API for full-function 2D and 3D graphics on embedded systems.

FDA

With QNX, industrial customers have the assurance of using a software architecture proven in thousands of mission-critical and life-critical environments, including medical devices. In fact, QNX Software Systems has passed all audits by medical device companies seeking FDA approval for their QNX technology-based products.

See also: Standards and Certifications

The QNX partner ecosystem for industrial automation provides customers with off-the-shelf support for a rich choice of processors, protocols, I/O cards, tools, and other complementary technologies. Coupled with the QNX industrial software architecture, these technologies allow customers to build a solution for virtually any industrial application.

Industrial protocols BitCtrl Systems Cogent Realtime Systems Electronic System Design IBV Automation proconX Nautsilus Real-Time Systems Steinhoff Automation Database technologies Birdstep Technology Encirq Empress Software Hitachi Data Systems McObject MySQL Oracle IBM (formerly Solid Information Tech nology) Connectivity solutions Atheros Communications Arada Systems Broadcom Commercial Timesharing Data Connection Limited Devicescape Marvell Technology Group Red Bend Software Sybase (formerly iAnywhere) Tools Abatron Cimtech IBM KW Software Lauterbach MathWorks National Instruments Ncapsa Steinhoff Automation Protocols supported: AB Data Highway Plus ASI CAN, CANOpen ControlNet DeviceNet Powerlink IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol OPC EtherCAT Interbus Modbus, Modbus Plus, Modbus TCP Profibus, Profinet SoftPLC

Graphics technologies Adobe ALT Software Altia Presagis (formerly Engenuity Technologies) The Imagination Group NVIDIA/Hybrid Graphics I/O and Peripherals Active Silicon CyberOptics Semiconductor Prosilica Quanser Sealevel Systems Virtualization Koenig IBV Automation Real-Time Systems Hardware technology Advantech (x86) AMD/Spansion Atmel Connect Tech Freescale Semiconductor Fujitsu Kontron (x86) Texas Instruments Xilinx System Integration/Consultants 4D Engineering Acontis Technologies Ascolab Centris Technologies Global Edge Software Harmonic Software Systems IBV Echtzeit und Embedded ICS Triplex Isagraf ITK Engineering Real-Time Systems Steinhoff Automation Systemic Real-time Design Teng Java technology Aonix IBM ProSyst

QNX Professional Services is a dedicated group of engineers offering a unique mix of skills, contacts, and deep industrial experience to help address key development challenges. We understand the vital role that certifications and standards play in your success and can help you hit your project milestones on time, on budget, and on spec.

IEC61508 Certification Assistance

IEC61508 certification was initially used in the automation and process-control industry. However, with the increasing importance of safety and reliability in all industrial segments, the demand for this certification is on the rise. Anyone who has attempted to certify a product to IEC61508 Safety Integration Level 3 (SIL3) understands the significant amount of time and effort it takes to reach that goal. QNX Professional Services can help you pave a smoother road to certification through our IEC61508 certification assistance service. By leveraging existing proven-in-use (PIU) data on various QNX-supported hardware platforms and IEC61508 documentation packages, our services team can identify the best solution to shorten your time to certification and dramatically reduce your costs at the system level.

QNX Secure Kernel Extension Service

We introduced the QNX Neutrino RTOS Secure Kernel in March 2009 based on the QNX Neutrino RTOS 6.4. Certified to the stringent security requirements of the Common Criteria ISO/IEC15408 Evaluation Assurance Level 4+ (EAL 4+), this version includes two hardware platforms (x86 with SMP and ARMLE). Recognizing the diversity of our customer base, we offer a range of services to help you obtain the same certification on other versions of the QNX Neutrino RTOS, expand the scope of certification to include modules that are critical to your success, or incorporate new hardware platforms in your certification.

See also: QNX Professional Services

Web site Blog entry

Westinghouse and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) It is hard to imagine an application more critical than a nuclear power plant; failure there can have large scale catastrophic results. Both Westinghouse and AECL chose QNX Neutrino for its uncompromising reliability in complex real-time control systems.

Web site Success story

Caterpillar Caterpillar’s mining division Aquila has installed over 35 surface mine control systems in more than 20 different coal, iron, copper, and gold mines in Canada, the US, Australia, South Africa, and Russia. Aquila’s managers consider the QNX Neutrino RTOS to be an extremely robust and stable platform and credit it with being a significant factor in the success of their product.

Web site

Emerson Process Management General-purpose production, manufacturing, monitoring, and control systems from Emerson run operations from oil refineries to food manufacturing. Emerson chose the QNX industrial portfolio for their products because of the reliability and security of the QNX Neutrino RTOS.

Web site Press release

Fortna To keep on top of the number of products shipped from the world's biggest online retailer, Amazon.com relies on a warehouse control system from Fortna. FortnaWCS system is built using QNX Software System’s industrial automation portfolio for high speed and industrial-strength reliability.

Web site

General Electric The Mark VI Turbine Controller is a scalable workhorse control that can be applied to small systems such as an industrial steam turbine control, large gas turbine control systems, and plant controls, and uses QNX to control the precise timing required.

Web site

GE Transportation The GE Evolution series locomotive uses the QNX® Neutrino® RTOS with QNX graphics technology for in-cab control systems, replacing traditional levers and gauges with a full graphics panel.

Web site Blog

Intalysis QNX technology is used in a low-frequency microwave (LFM) ore analyzer that continuously measures the moisture content of ore in real time as it moves along conveyer belts. A mining company uses this measurement information to add just the right amount of moisture to keep ore both safe and easy to handle.

Web site

Kieback & Peter The Neutrino GLT Building Management System from Kieback & Peter is designed for managing building automation and, as the control center, ensures optimal operation of all technical building equipment and plants. The system is connected to automation stations and devices throughout the building or plant with BACnet and LonWorks, and uses the QNX Neutrino RTOS for the underlying system’s reliability.

Web site

Novar/Honeywell Novar provides heating ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) systems that run big-box retail stores like Walmart and Staples. Their systems employ the QNX Neutrino RTOS for robust and reliable control.

Web site Success story

Precitech Precitech provides a complete line of ultra-precision, single-point, and multi-axis diamond turning, grinding, grooving, and milling machines for producing components by the electro-optic, ophthalmic, and precision metal-working industries. This line is powered by the QNX Neutrino RTOS and QNX graphics technologies.

Web site

Tridium The JACE 600 is a self-contained embedded client/server platform running the QNX Neutrino RTOS that can be used in a multitude of applications, including building automation applications and hospital bed monitoring.

Web site

uControl uControl creates a home security and monitoring system that relies on the reliability of the QNX Neutrino RTOS with the graphics capabilities of the QNX Aviage® HMI Suite. This system has a user-friendly touch screen panel to control all aspects of household systems.

Web site

US Postal Service The delivery bar code sorter (DBCS) is a postal sorting machine provided by ElectroCom Automation. The DBCS can sort 35,000 to 40,000 letters per hour. The QNX Neutrino RTOS is a vital part of the DBCS, serving as the OS that controls and monitors the machine's functions.