A typical embedded system consists of application-specific software running on a hardware target board. By modifying the software, other embedded applications can be developed for different markets using the same hardware. In essence, the software modifications define the functionality of both the embedded system and its applications.
The rapid pace of technological innovation and the possibilities of hardware consolidation using the latest multi-core SoCs has transformed the landscape of these software-defined systems, introducing new opportunities and challenges across various industries. From medical devices and robotics to energy systems and beyond, the development of these systems requires a robust and adaptable software stack. Additionally, some of these next-generation smart devices and industrial automation systems must be certified to ever-evolving yet stringent safety and cybersecurity standards.
To address these challenges, the QNX General Embedded Development Platform (GEDP) redefines how developers can future-proof and accelerate the development of safe and secure embedded systems.
QNX supports a broad range of x86 and ARM 64-bit embedded platforms from leading silicon vendors, ensuring compatibility with high-performance multi-core processors, AI-enabled SoCs, industrial-grade MPUs, and more.
Our extensive ecosystem includes platforms optimized for real-time processing, functional safety, edge AI, and high-reliability applications across industries. With tailored Board Support Packages and drivers for advanced computing, networking, graphics, and AI acceleration, QNX provides the foundational software needed to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation embedded systems.
The highly scalable QNX GEDP software is based on modular QNX foundational software components, and includes sample reference solutions to accelerate the development of various software-defined embedded systems for different industries. The main software components are:
Sample End User Applications:
Jumpstart development using pre-integrated software stack and reduce risk of integration failures.
Open-Source Software Support:
Prototype and safely test new features using Open-Source software components.
Third-Party Ecosystem:
Leverage ecosystem software to launch additional functionality.
Frameworks and Containers:
Address market requirements using field-proven frameworks and industry standard Containers.
OS Services and Utilities:
Expand device capabilities using databases, communication stacks and connectivity protocols.
QNX Hypervisor and QNX Hypervisor for Safety:
Run multi-OS (Android, Linux, QNX/QOS) mixed critical safety applications/services from a single SoC.
Microkernel-based QNX OS and QNX OS for Safety (QOS):
Develop high-performance, safe, and secure software-defined hard real-time embedded systems.
Board Support Packages and Drivers:
Create portable embedded software solutions that can be deployed to various cloud/edge targets.
QNX General Embedded Development Platform integrates a modular and scalable foundational software stack, anchored by a field-proven real-time operating system with a suite of middleware and development tools.
For decades, QNX has worked with a network of partners to provide complementary technologies and broaden our reach across industries and regions. Several QNX-based third-party complementary solutions are available which include: Communication Protocols: Data Distribution Service (DDS), Time Sensitive Networking (TSN), Profinet, Profisafe EtherCAT, Fail Safe over EtherCAT (FSoE), CANOpen Safety, Zenoh, Modbus, etc. Plus, Human Machine Interface (HMI), Embedded Database, Server Message Block (SMB 3), and more.
QNX software supports open standards and provides access to a variety of open-source packages for building software-defined systems. Developers can obtain these open-source ports as compiled binaries from the QNX Software Center, as add-on packages, or as source code from upstream project repositories or public QNX repositories on GitLab and GitHub.
Yes, QNX General Embedded Development Platform (GEDP) supports various cloud/Edge based boards and virtual targets, which can be used for application software development when the hardware is not available. Also, QNX Board Support Package (BSP) and drivers decouple the hardware target board from the rest of the QNX GEDP based embedded system, enabling easy migration of these software applications to any QNX BSP based suitable hardware target board.