A kernel alone on a random hardware platform can't, but a kernel and a hardware core that watchdogs and flips the bird at a rt-violating driver+device, sure (I'

A kernel alone on a random hardware platform can't, but a kernel and a hardware core that watchdogs and flips the bird at a rt-violating driver+device, sure (I've toyed with VxWorks on devices that work this way). Usually when you're entering that realm of such requirements, you're rarely talking about off-the-shelf devices.