The deal between IBM Corp and Japanese factory machinery manufacturer Komatsu Co Ltd (CI No 2,590) turns out to be another embedded design win for the Mach-derived Workplace microkernel. An IBM announcement says Komatsu will be using the microkernel to build factory automation controllers running on PowerPC and other processors. The two companies will carry out joint development work to make the microkernel more suitable for factory automation and will promote IBM microkernel technology as an industry standard. The agreement follows the earlier announcement that Goldstar Co Ltd and Digital Equipment Corp will also use the microkernel for embedded applications.
