An RTEMS port for the AT6981 SpaceWire-enabled processor: Features and performance

The Atmel AT6981 is a complex system-on-chip based on a SPARC LEON2-FT core, and which provides a number of peripheral devices including three multi-function SpaceWire engines and a router. The RTEMS real-time operating system is widely used in spacecraft systems in many roles. Its long history and open source availability make it an ideal choice for many applications. RTEMS has already been ported to many platforms, including some based on the SPARC LEON2 processor. The process of porting RTEMS to the AT6981 is described, and the performance, both for general data processing and for SpaceWire traffic handling, is examined.