Overview
Why axiomOS exists and what it is — a research kernel for verifiable runtime extension.
axiomOS is a bare-metal Rust kernel that lets you change kernel behavior at runtime — but only after a verifier has proven the new behavior is safe to run. We target embedded systems and robotics, where deployed devices need behavioral updates but cannot tolerate the risk of a reflash.
The problem
Embedded systems deployed in the field need behavioral updates: new sensor fusion algorithms, modified control loops, updated safety policies. Traditional kernels require full reflash cycles, which are:
- Risky in production environments
- Slow — minutes of downtime
- Wasteful — megabytes to change kilobytes
- Dangerous — bricked devices on failed updates
The shape of the answer
Runtime kernel extension through eBPF. Programs are:
- Verified for safety before execution
- Hot-loaded without reboot
- Attached to kernel hooks — syscalls, timers, GPIO, PWM, IIO
- Detachable on-the-fly
This is proven in Linux, where eBPF underpins tracing, networking, and security. But Linux is unsuitable for hard real-time robotics: unpredictable latency, generous resource overhead, and a kernel that cannot fit in 22 MB.
What axiomOS is not
- A production kernel — not yet
- POSIX-compliant by design — partial userspace compatibility only
- A Linux replacement
What axiomOS is
- A research platform for runtime kernel extension
- An exploration of Rust’s viability for systems programming
- A testbed for verified runtime behavior modification
Read the architecture overview next.