PikeOS fronm Sysgo is a micro kernel, which allows to use different operating systems on one hardware at the same time, but protected against each other. Today PikeOS does already support APIs like Linux, POSIX and OSEK. Due to its open architecture further APIs can be integrated. By partition management hardware resources will be distributed in a way, that allows applications to run in their own partitions, without effecting each other. The data exchange is running in secure communication channels. Therefor the distribution of software with different criticalities on various partitions allows e. g. the isolation of software packages of third parties or even the formally certification of safety critical parts of the total system.

PikeOS can separate safety-critical realtime-controls from non-critical parts of the software like visualizing or handling and nevertheless run on one system. Linux can be integrated in safety critical systems with it’s functionalities and thus software expenses can be reduced.