This research investigates how to build real-time systems using a concurrent object-oriented programming language based on the actor model [Agha86]. The close parallels between the characteristics of concurrent object oriented languages and real-time systems motivates this investigation. Successful use of the actor model in closely related problem domains [Bake78, Barr87, Atha87, Yone87, Dela88] also suggests that this a fruitful line of inquiry. The research is composed of three interrelated projects:• designing a concurrent object-oriented programming language, named ACT++, for real-time system applications.• using ACT++ in representative real-time applications.• constructing a distributed real-time kernel, named REACT, to support the execution of ACT++ applications.The language and the kernel are distinctive because they (1) use fine-medium grained concurrency, termed ultralight processes, (2) support the combination of inheritance with the actor model of computation, and (3) are based on automatic, distributed, incremental real-time garbage collection of concurrent objects - removing error-prone management concerns from developers and unifying process (time) and memory management. An extended "white paper" describing these projects is available from the author on request.