Next generation Distributed Real-Time Embedded systems will have to satisfy an increasingly complex set of requirements. Among the most interesting will be the need for application programs to adapt to changing conditions, maximizing the amount of work they accomplish in the face of unpredictable demands. The work described in this paper implemented several new system services in support of such adaptive behavior in a dynamic target tracking testbed environment. The lessons learned were applicable to many emerging DRE applications, and can serve as guide for future development.