Dual-FPGA UAV Control Architecture for Vibration-Robust Redundancy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional control systems for unmanned vehicles, such as backplane architectures, are cumbersome, weight-heavy, and limited in processing capability, making them unsuitable for high-stress environments and requiring significant space and weight, while also being prone to mechanical and electrical failures due to vibrations and temperature fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A control system comprising a housing with integrated heterogeneous field programmable gate array (FPGA) processing systems on multiple circuit boards, providing a robust and reliable solution for vehicle and mission management, with a first processing system executing vehicle control processes and a second processing system monitoring and initiating control actions based on outputs from the first system, ensuring redundancy and high certification standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional backplane architectures are used for control systems, then processing capability and reliability are improved, but weight and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple processing systems (first and second processing systems with different FPGAs) and communication interfaces onto a single circuit board, eliminating the need for separate backplane modules. This integration maintains the reliability benefits of redundant processing while reducing overall device complexity and the number of mechanical connections required.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate different types of FPGAs and support multiple communication protocols (serial, parallel, differential) through integrated interface circuits. This multi-functional design allows the same hardware platform to serve multiple processing and communication needs, reducing the number of specialized components required.
2Power
If traditional backplane architectures are used for control systems, then processing capability is improved, but weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple discrete components (processing systems, interface circuits, communication modules) into a single integrated circuit board design. This consolidation maintains full processing capability while eliminating the weight of separate backplane structures, mounting hardware, and redundant connection interfaces that would otherwise be required.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional backplane architectures are used for control systems, then communication interfaces are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to mechanical failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vulnerable mechanical connection elements (backplane slots, connectors, and mounting structures) from the system architecture. By implementing all communication interfaces directly on the circuit board through soldered connections and integrated circuitry, the design eliminates the mechanical failure points while preserving support for multiple communication protocols and interface types.
4Power
If traditional backplane architectures are used for control systems, then processing capability is improved, but volume increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple processing systems and communication interfaces into a single circuit board, dramatically reducing the volume required for the control system. This integration eliminates the need for separate backplane structures, multiple discrete modules, and extensive mounting space, while maintaining the full processing capability through coordinated operation of the first and second FPGAs.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for an unmanned vehicle (UV) comprises a housing defining an interior, a first circuit board disposed within the interior, and a second circuit board disposed within the interior. The first circuit board includes one or more processing circuits including a first processing system and a second processing system having heterogeneous field programmable architectures. The second circuit board includes a plurality of interface circuits associated with a plurality of vehicle devices of the UV. The second circuit board is in operative communication with the first circuit board and includes an input/output (I/O) interface between the plurality of interface circuits and the first and second processing systems.