Standard Linux for embedded real-time robotics and manufacturing control systems

The main goal of the research presented in this paper is to evaluate the possibility of using standard Linux for embedded real-time applications in robotics and manufacturing as a consequence of dramatic improvements in hardware computing power and free software quality in the last few years. After an accurate analysis of the problems related to make Linux, a native Unix-like fair kernel, real-time, laboratory tests showed that a large variety of applications (up to 1 KHz) can be implemented using Linux and commercial-of-the-shelf hardware. Practical examples of the control systems of an unmanned surface vessel used for robotics research and of a marking machine for steelworks are reported and discussed.