Russian Railways Adopt McObject’s eXtremeDB For Mission Critical Transportation Control
December 20, 2002 — Rostov State Railroad University (RGUPS) has selected McObject’s eXtremeDB for real-time data management in a key dispatch application for Southern Russia railways. By using McObject’s in-memory database system (IMDS) with the QNX® Neutrino® real-time operating system from QNX Software Systems Ltd., the university’s engineers expect to shorten development time and meet the demanding requirements of the mission-critical transportation control system.
University engineers designed the Railroad Dispatch System to coordinate trains’ movements based on communication between a centralized dispatch controller and local stations. One of the main functions of the system is to calculate the in-advance railroad schedule. This requires processing large volumes of complex data collected from the dispatched sites along with configuration information from the controller’s database. Real-time performance of this function is critical for the entire system, thus the data management module must be able to collect data and perform search functions quickly and reliably.
In developing the Railroad Dispatch System, RGUPS engineers sought an off-the-shelf real-time database management solution available for the selected platform, QNX® Neutrino® RTOS. By integrating a commercial database within the system, its designers aimed to shorten the development cycle and gain greater reliability through a proven, scalable solution.
McObject’s eXtremeDB proved the best fit. As an in-memory database, eXtremeDB eliminates I/O and other performance overhead associated with disk access. In addition, development is enhanced by eXtremeDB’s support for complex data types. For example, RGUPS engineers credit eXtremeDB’s support for vectors with streamlining application development and enabling tighter, more efficient code. The engineers also plan to use eXtremeDB’s XML interface to enable runtime upgrades to database structures in the deployed system.
“The QNX Neutrino real-time operating system (RTOS) was chosen for scalability and real-time performance,” said Alexander Kulkin, RGUPS Product Manager. “McObject’s eXtremeDB complements the QNX Neutrino RTOS by supporting the near-zero latency responsiveness requirements of this industrial control system.”
“One critical requirement of our dispatch system is to process large amounts of real-time data, reliably and efficiently. In our testing, we found McObject’s eXtremeDB to be the only DBMS available on QNX Neutrino that provides the necessary real-time performance,” said RGUPS developer Sergey Krivolapov.
“McObject designed eXtremeDB to run in the harsh environment of industrial control applications with the highest reliability. We are very pleased to be a part of the RGUPS team’s railroad dispatch solution,” said McObject Principal Architect and Co-founder Andrei Gorine.
About Rostov State Railroad University
Rostov State Railroad University is one of the oldest Russian technical colleges. Founded in 1933, the school conducts both fundamental and applied research and development across a broad range of technical disciplines including the development of railroad control systems. For more information about the university please visit www.rgups.ru.
About McObject
McObject, based in Issaquah, WA, builds data management technology that makes intelligent devices smarter, and provides first-rate support, consulting and other services to customers—among them industry leaders such as DaimlerChrysler and Tyco Thermal Controls—and to partners. With more than 30 years experience in compilers, real-time systems, embedded data management and kernel level device-driver development, McObject’s founders are well-suited to deliver database technology that becomes as ubiquitous as computing itself. The company can be reached at 425 831 5964, or visit www.mcobject.com.
About QNX Software Systems
Founded in 1980, QNX Software Systems is the industry leader in real-time, microkernel OS technology. The inherent reliability, scalable architecture, and small memory footprint of the QNX Neutrino RTOS make it the most trusted foundation for future-ready applications. Companies worldwide including Cisco, Delphi, Siemens, Alcatel, Texaco, and Ford depend on QNX technology for network routers, medical devices, intelligent transportation systems, safety and security systems, next-generation robotics, and other mission-critical applications. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, QNX Software Systems maintains offices in North America, Europe, and Asia, and distributes its products in more than 100 countries worldwide. Visit www.qnx.com.
McObject and eXtremeDB are trademarks of McObject LLC. All other company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.