Asynchronous Co-Processor Control for Fast Dynamic Environment Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional programmable logic controllers (PLCs) exhibit excessively long latencies and are not suited for dynamic environments requiring rapid responses, such as aircraft control or complex chemical processes, due to their serial execution of instructions and lack of parallel processing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A control system employing a master processor and multiple asynchronous slave co-processors, each evaluating specific subsets of conditions based on time scales or patterns, to significantly reduce latency and enable reflex-like reactions in dynamic environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional PLCs use serial execution of instructions, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but response time and latency are excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent co-processors, each responsible for evaluating specific subsets of conditions. This parallel architecture eliminates the serial execution bottleneck of conventional PLCs while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design. Each co-processor operates independently to evaluate conditions and generate control signals simultaneously, achieving rapid response times without requiring an overly complex monolithic system.
2Productivity
If conventional PLCs execute instructions sequentially, then ease of manufacture and programming are improved, but productivity and reaction speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides condition evaluation into multiple parallel co-processors, each handling specific condition subsets. This segmentation enables simultaneous evaluation of multiple conditions, dramatically improving reaction speed while keeping each co-processor's implementation relatively simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically assigns different condition subsets to different co-processors based on the specific control task requirements. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt its parallel processing architecture to various application needs, maintaining ease of implementation while maximizing reaction speed for each specific scenario.
Data Source
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AI summary
A dynamic environment having multiple conditions in response to which corresponding actions are required, and comprises various equipment, control device(s) to control the equipment, and one or more sensors to generate input signal(s) representing a monitored condition of the environment. A control system for the environment comprises a master processor and one or more co-processors, wherein the master processor configures a given co-processor to evaluate only a first subset of conditions expected to occur in the environment within a specified time period, and to provide first control information representing an action to be taken if a particular condition of the first subset is satisfied. The co-processor receives the input signal(s) representing the monitored condition, processes the input signal(s) so as to determine if the particular condition of the first subset is satisfied, and provides the first control information to the control devices so as to control the equipment.