Avionics Partition Reconfiguration for Backup Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current avionics systems face high costs, weight, and volume issues due to redundant hardware and software duplication, which increases failure rates and fuel consumption, while aiming to maintain system reliability and availability without significant increases in these factors.
Innovation Solution
A distributed avionics system with reconfiguration means that reallocates partitions/applications across computer nodes based on availability levels, allowing critical functions to continue operation without redundant hardware, by assigning roles and availability levels to each node and reconfiguring the system upon node failure to prioritize higher-level functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant hardware and software duplication are provided to ensure system reliability, then system availability is improved, but cost, weight, and volume increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple application partitions are merged to execute on a single computer node through dynamic reconfiguration. When a node fails, the system consolidates its partitions onto remaining operational nodes, eliminating the need for dedicated backup hardware while maintaining system availability.
Solution Approach 2:
Computer nodes are designed with universal capability to execute multiple different application partitions. Each node can dynamically assume different roles and execute different partitions based on system needs, allowing any operational node to take over failed node's functions without requiring specialized redundant hardware.
2Reliability
If redundant hardware is provided to maintain system reliability, then system availability is improved, but fuel consumption increases due to increased weight
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges computational workloads onto fewer operational nodes when failures occur, eliminating the weight penalty of redundant hardware while maintaining availability through software-based failover and dynamic reconfiguration.
3Reliability
If backup systems run in parallel with main systems, then system availability is improved, but hardware costs and volume increase due to duplication
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining separate parallel backup hardware systems, the invention merges backup functionality into the same physical infrastructure by dynamically allocating partitions across nodes. This consolidation eliminates duplicate hardware volume while maintaining availability through software-based redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic reconfiguration to change the operational state of partitions in real-time based on node availability. This dynamic approach replaces static parallel backup hardware with flexible software-based failover, reducing hardware volume while maintaining availability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If more computer nodes are added to execute partitions, then system functionality is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of node utilization from static to dynamic, allowing the same physical nodes to serve multiple functions at different times. This parameter change enables enhanced functionality without proportionally increasing system complexity, as the same hardware resources are flexibly allocated rather than requiring dedicated nodes for each function.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a distributed avionics system (100, 500) having a plurality of computer nodes arranged to execute a plurality of partitions/applications (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6). The distributed avionics system comprises reconfiguration means (332) arranged to reconfigure the distributed avionics system upon detection of failure in at least one of the computer nodes. Each partition/application is associated to a application/partition availability level. The reconfiguration means are arranged to reconfigure the distributed avionics system based on the partition/application availability levels of the partition/applications (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6). The present invention further relates to a method for back-up handling in a distributed avionics system having a plurality of computer nodes (A, B, C).