Avionics Compute Node Resilience via Dynamic Function Reassignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft avionics systems face reduced resiliency due to the negative impact of node failures on critical functionalities, as multiple functionalities are often hosted on common nodes, leading to potential loss of critical functions in case of node maloperation or failure.
Innovation Solution
The method involves dynamically reassigning and prioritizing higher-criticality functionalities among multiple common compute nodes, allowing for dynamic reconfiguration to ensure continued operation of critical functions even if one node fails, utilizing a controller to manage the redistribution based on functionality criticality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple functionalities are hosted on common nodes to reduce system complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates because failure of one node can impact multiple critical functionalities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration capability that allows the avionics system to adapt its architecture in real-time. When a node fails, the system dynamically redistributes functionalities from the failed node to surviving nodes, transforming a static vulnerable architecture into a dynamic resilient one. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the simplified common-node architecture while adding dynamic adaptability to handle failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing the capability for dynamic reconfiguration and prioritizing higher-criticality functionalities. Before a failure occurs, the system is prepared with the knowledge of which functionalities are most critical and has the reconfiguration mechanism ready. When failure occurs, this preliminary preparation enables rapid response that maintains reliability without requiring redundant nodes.
2Reliability
If redundant nodes are added to improve system reliability, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each compute node universal by designing them to be capable of hosting any functionality, not just dedicated functions. This multi-functionality allows any surviving node to take over functionalities from a failed node, eliminating the need for redundant dedicated nodes. The system achieves reliability through flexibility rather than multiplication of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of surviving nodes dynamically. When a node fails, the parameters (which functionalities each node hosts) are reconfigured to distribute the lost functionalities across surviving nodes. This parameter change approach allows the system to maintain reliability through reconfiguration rather than through adding redundant hardware nodes.
3Reliability
If all functionalities are reconfigured during node failure, then reliability is improved, but productivity decreases due to system disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial reconfiguration by selectively moving only the necessary functionalities to surviving nodes rather than reconfiguring the entire system. By focusing reconfiguration efforts on the minimal necessary changes to maintain critical functions, the system preserves productivity while still achieving the reliability benefit of maintaining essential functionalities during node failure.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for compiling and dynamically reconfiguring the management of functionalities carried among a set of multiple common compute nodes. During the inoperation of one node of the set of multiple common compute nodes, higher-criticality functionalities can be reassigned to other common nodes to ensure maintained operation of the higher-criticality functionalities.