The Spring System: Integrated Support for Complex Real-Time Systems

The Spring system is a highly integrated collection of software and hardware that synergistically operates to provide end-to-end support in building complex real-time applications. In this paper, we show how Spring's specification language, programming language, software generation system, and operating system kernel are applied to build a flexible manufacturing testbed. The same ingredients have also been used to realize a predictable version of a robot pick and place application used in industry. These applications are good examples of complex real-time systems that require flexibility. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the integrated nature of the system and the benefits of integration; in particular, the use of reflective information and the value of function and time composition. The lessons learned from these applications and the project as a whole are also presented.