Platform based development of embedded systems for traction and power engineering applications - experiences and challenges

The paper deals with development of platform based, embedded, hard real-time systems for traction and power engineering applications. Such systems are intended to have lifecyle of more than 20 years. Several cases of successful projects based on two typical platform architectures are presented. Both hardware and software platforms and components are described along with some topics that can help to identify advantages and disadvantages of such an attitude. Particular attention is given to the problem usually not taken into account-component obsolescence.