We propose a multithreaded Java microcontroller-called Komodo microcontroller--with a new hardware event handling mechanism that allows handling of simultaneous overlapping events with hard real-time requirements. Real-time Java threads are used as interrupt service threads (ISTs) instead of interrupt service routines (ISRs). Our proposed Komodo microcontroller supports multiple ISTs with zero-cycle context switching overhead. We evaluate the basic architectural attributes using real-time event parameters of an autonomous guided vehicle. When calculating the maximum vehicle speed without violating the real-time constraints, ISTs dominate ISRs by a speed increase of 28%.
Uwe Brinkschulte, C. Krakowski, Jochen Kreuzinger,