Aonix Makes Hard Real-Time a Reality for Java(TM) Developers.

PERC Pico Breaks New Ground in Speed, Size, Determinism

NURNBURG, Germany -- Aonix[R], the provider of the PERC VM product line for embedded targets, announced the first commercial release of its new PERC Pico technology. PERC Pico is the first development environment for Java developers truly geared toward the creation of resource-constrained and deeply embedded hard real-time applications and components. PERC Pico is designed to solve problems for a broad range of projects including avionics, satellites, deep space probes, radio communications, telecon, weapons systems, and flight surface controls.

PERC Pico eliminates the technological barriers that previously blocked the proliferation of Java development across the embedded applications market. A study by Embedded Market Forecasters reveals that the hindering factors for Java were perceptions of slow execution, lack of deterministic response, the inability to access low-level devices, and large footprint. PERC Pico addresses each of these issues head on. PERC Pico execution speed is similar to C/C++ programs and three times faster than traditional Java solutions. PERC Pico offers deterministic response times in the low microseconds, the ability to directly access low-level hardware devices, and memory footprint as low as 256 Kbytes.

The PERC Pico environment combines off-the-shelf tools with standards-based annotations, a verifier, and automated build tools to create efficient executables. Built-in memory management removes the complexities and execution inefficiencies typically associated with conventional garbage-collection techniques that are less suitable for resource-constrained applications. The PERC Pico technology provides the basis for safety certifiable solutions to the highest level of safety criticality. Such certification is impractical or impossible with conventional Java approaches.

"Previous technologies failed to address the core needs of resource-constrained systems and components," said Dave Wood, Aonix VP Marketing. "The embedded systems community is more than ready to adopt Java technology, but traditional Java solutions only scratch the surface of customer requirements. Aonix has been in the hard real-time and safety critical business for over two decades, so we understand the issues and have addressed them."

One indication of the growing trend toward Java in embedded applications is that even traditionally conservative industries like avionics, space, and automotive are taking a close look and assessing the potential for Java in future applications. The European Space Agency (ESA) has responded to industry requests by commissioning particular variants of PERC Pico to support space applications. ESA is using Java to prototype onboard software building blocks.

Designed as a profile of the RTSJ, PERC Pico can be used in either a stand-alone configuration on bare target boards or with an RTOS kernel where footprint and execution speed are at a premium. In an RTOS-based configuration, PERC Pico can also be used together with the PERC Ultra virtual machine in an RTOS environment. This dual configuration is ideal for complex embedded applications where developers need to combine high levels of functionality and productivity with access to low-level devices, deterministic response, and high throughput. The PERC Ultra virtual machine offers rich J2SE[TM]-based capabilities and predictable garbage collection, while PERC Pico provides the low-level access and small latencies that are often required.

Shipping and Availability

PERC Pico 1.0 is available in February 2007 for Linux/x86 platforms and is readily portable to all major processor architectures for both RTOS and bare-board platforms. PERC Pico development tools are available with flat project-based pricing starting at $25,000 for an unlimited number of developers. PERC Pico has been available in pre-commercial form since January, 2006.

About Aonix[R]

Aonix offers mission- and safety-critical solutions primarily to the military and aerospace, telecommunications and transportation-related industries. Aonix delivers the leading high-reliability, real-time embedded virtual machine solution for running Java[TM] programs deployed today and has the largest number of certified Ada applications at the highest level of criticality. Headquartered in San Diego, CA and Paris, France, Aonix operates sales offices throughout North America and Europe in addition to offering a network of international distributors. For more information, visit www.aonix.com.

Aonix and PERC are registered trademarks and trademarks of Aonix. Java[TM] and all Java-based marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other tradenames and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. [c] 2007, Aonix, all rights reserved.