T-Engine is a standard development platform based on the open concept. It is comprised of hardware architecture (T-Engine board) and a real-time operating system (T-Kernel) which operates on the T-Engine board. T-Engine's purpose is the advancement of the development efficiency of computers which comprise embedded systems and ubiquitous computing environments.

 

Figure: T-Engine Architecture

 

 Up to now, there rarely has been anything which could be called "a standard platform" in embedded system development. Development was conducted in development environments which were prepared for each product or hardware such as processors. Product development process first started with hardware planning, and the software was newly developed in accordance with newly created hardware. Today, an increase in sophistication and complexity of systems has led to an increase in man-hours required for development with the existing approach. Development efficiency and the reuse of design for improving it have become very important.

 

In order to alleviate these problems, T-Engine has promoted the concept of "strict standardization" from the hardware and software view point, increasing the reusability of design developed on T-Engine and decreasing man-hours for product development.

 

T-Engine is a family of hardware based on standard specifications, and T-Kernel has been developed as a real-time OS which runs on it. Moreover, our goal is to distribute middleware and digital contents over networks safely using eTRON, the fundamental security architecture for ubiquitous computing environment.

 

 

■Standard T-Engine　

Standard T-Engine, which is equipped with user interfaces, such as LCDs and touch panels, is the development platform for relatively sophisticated embedded devices, such as information terminals like PDAs and cellular phones, intelligent home appliances, car navigation systems, and set-top boxes.

Photo 1: Left Standard T-Engine / Right μT-Engine

 

 

■μT-Engine

μT-Engine, which is equipped with simpler user interface than Standard T-Engine, is a development platform for compact embedded control devices, which require relatively high response such as FA, measurement devices, and automatic vending machines. Since they are not equipped with a user interface such as an LCD or touch panel, the boards are smaller.

 

 

■T-Engine Appliance　

T-Engine includes standard T-Engine and μT-Engine that can be used as standard development platforms, as well as T-Engine appliance. T-Engine appliance is the generic term for actual products embedded with T-Kernel and T-Kernel Standard Extension.
T-Engine appliance includes development boards with functions enhanced uniquely by each manufacturer as well as end products for consumers, such as car navigation systems and digital cameras (Photo 2).

 

Photo 2: The example of T-Engine Appliance (Teaboard2)