uRT51: An embedded real-time processor implemented on FPGA devices

In this paper we describe and evaluate the main features of the uRT51 processor. The uRT51 processor was designed for embedded real-time control applications. It is a processor architecture that incorporates the specific functions of a real-time system in hardware. It was described using synthesizable VHDL and it was implemented on FPGA devices. We describe how the uRT51 processor supports time, events, task and priorities. The performance of the uRT51 processor is evaluated using a control application as a case study. The experiments show that the uRT51 processor scheduling features outperform the ones obtained using a traditional RTOS-based real-time system.