Engine Control Redundancy Handover via Supervising Module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distributed control arrangements for engines face challenges in seamless handover between redundant control entities due to delays in fault detection and state transfer, leading to operational discontinuity and increased data communication requirements.
Innovation Solution
A control arrangement with two or more mutually redundant control modules, a supervising control module, and a bus for information transfer, where the supervising module determines execution and actuation commands based on predefined numbers of control modules receiving and executing measurement parameter values, ensuring synchronized data transfer and minimizing handover disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the back-up control entity is continuously updated with the latest measurement signals, then the synchronization between active and back-up entities is improved, but the amount of data transferred increases drastically, causing increased latency or requiring higher-capacity communication links
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential internal state information needed for handover continuity, rather than transferring all measurement signals. The back-up entity maintains its own independent control function and only receives minimal state data when needed, eliminating the need for continuous full-data synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The back-up control entity is pre-configured with the capability to execute the control function independently. During normal operation, it performs preliminary computations and maintains readiness without requiring continuous data updates, so that when handover is needed, it can immediately take over with minimal delay.
2Speed
If fault detection and state transfer delays are reduced, then the handover speed is improved, but the complexity of the control arrangement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The back-up control entity autonomously monitors the health of the active entity and independently determines when handover is necessary. Each control entity self-manages its own state and can autonomously initiate or accept handover without complex centralized coordination, reducing system complexity while maintaining fast response.
Solution Approach 2:
The control arrangement dynamically adapts between active-back-up and dual-active modes based on real-time conditions. The system flexibility allows it to optimize handover speed when needed while maintaining simplicity during normal operation, avoiding permanent complex infrastructure.
3Reliability
If both control entities continuously execute the control function, then the readiness for handover is improved, but the amount of computation and data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of both entities continuously executing the full control function, the patent implements partial execution where the back-up entity performs only essential computations needed for potential handover. This reduces overall computational energy consumption while maintaining sufficient readiness, as the back-up can quickly complete any additional calculations when actually needed.
Data Source
Figure 1~3a
Figure 2
Figure 3b~3c
AI summary
A control arrangement (100) for controlling an engine (200) is provided. According to an example embodi- ment, the control arrangement (100) comprises two or more mutually redundant acting control modules (110-, 110-2, 110-3) for providing respective instances of a control function (120) configured to derive a control pa- rameter for adjusting operation of the engine (200) at least on basis of at least one measurement parameter that is descriptive of the engine operation, a supervis- ing control module (110-6) for managing operation of said two or more acting control modules (110-1, 110-2, 10-3), and a bus (130) for transfer of information, said bus (130) arranged to connect said control modules (110) to each other.