UAV Processor Virtualization for Isolated Vehicle and Mission Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional control systems for unmanned vehicles, such as UAVs, are often bulky, heavy, and limited in processing capability, with backplane architectures prone to mechanical and electrical failures due to environmental stresses, and they require significant space and weight, which is not suitable for high-stress applications like airborne vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A processing system for unmanned vehicles is introduced, featuring a heterogeneous processing system with multiple processing units and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), providing a reliable, configurable, and certifiable software configuration through partitioned operating environments, enabling integrated vehicle and mission management control. This system includes a first and second processing unit, with a virtualization layer allowing for isolated execution of vehicle control and mission control processes, and a computational accelerator for enhanced processing.
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 volume increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple processing units (CPU, GPU, FPGA) and control functions into a single integrated control system unit. This consolidation integrates vehicle control systems and mission control systems that were previously separate, reducing overall system weight while maintaining processing capability and reliability through the synergistic combination of heterogeneous processors.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system employs multi-functional processing units that can perform various control tasks. The heterogeneous architecture allows the same hardware platform to handle different types of processing requirements (real-time control, parallel processing, reconfigurable logic) within a single integrated unit, eliminating the need for multiple separate systems and reducing weight.
2Productivity
If traditional control systems are used, then processing capability is sufficient, but device complexity and hardware requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct functional modules with specialized processing units. Each processing unit (CPU for sequential processing, GPU for parallel processing, FPGA for reconfigurable logic) handles specific types of computational tasks, allowing the system to achieve high processing capability while maintaining manageable complexity through clear functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtualization layer as an intermediary between the heterogeneous processing units and the control software. This virtualization layer abstracts the complexity of managing multiple different processor types, providing a unified interface and resource management mechanism that simplifies the overall system architecture while enabling diverse computing environments.
3Reliability
If isolated execution environments are implemented, then system reliability and certification standards are met, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtualization layer serves as an intermediary that creates isolated execution environments (virtual machines) for different control functions. This abstraction layer provides the necessary isolation for meeting certification standards while managing the complexity of heterogeneous processing through unified resource management, preventing direct complexity exposure to application developers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of execution environments through virtual machines. Each virtual machine provides an isolated software execution context that can be independently configured and certified, allowing multiple isolated environments to run on shared hardware without requiring separate physical systems, thus managing complexity while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing system for an unmanned vehicle (UV) such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided. The processing system comprises a first processing unit of an integrated circuit and a second processing unit of the integrated circuit. The processing system comprises a first operating system provisioned using the first processing unit. The first operating system is configured to execute a first vehicle control process. The processing system comprises a virtualization layer configured using at least the second processing unit, and a second operating system provisioned using the virtualization layer. The second operating system is configured to execute a second vehicle control process.