Virtual Platform Stratus for Controller Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hardware systems face challenges in increasing fault tolerance and redundancy while using commercial off-the-shelf components, particularly in critical subsystems like vehicle engines, where loss of a dedicated handler can render the entire system inoperable.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a virtual platform stratus (VPS) architecture that provides virtualized channels of communication between hardware endpoints and controllers, utilizing reconfigurable hardware devices and a secure logic fabric to enhance redundancy, simplify hardware designs, and enable component reuse, while reducing size, weight, and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated handlers are used for each hardware component, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal handler that can service multiple hardware components simultaneously through virtualization. Instead of having dedicated handlers for each component, a single handler is virtualized to provide dedicated service to multiple components, achieving both reliability (through dedicated service) and reduced complexity (through consolidation). The virtualization layer enables this multi-functionality by creating virtual dedicated channels within the shared physical handler.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of dedicated handler functionality within a shared physical handler. Through virtualization, multiple virtual handler instances are created that each appear dedicated to specific hardware components, while physically sharing the same underlying resource. This copying approach maintains the reliability benefits of dedicated handlers while reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple dedicated handlers are implemented, then fault tolerance is improved, but size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple dedicated handler functions into a single shared physical handler through virtualization. Instead of implementing separate physical handlers for each hardware component, the system combines them into one handler that uses virtualization to provide dedicated service to multiple components. This merging reduces weight while maintaining redundancy through virtual copies of handler functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from physical duplication (multiple separate handlers in spatial dimension) to virtual duplication (multiple virtual instances within the same physical handler). By moving the redundancy implementation to the virtual/software dimension rather than requiring physical duplication, the system achieves fault tolerance without increasing weight.
3Reliability
If dedicated handlers are used for each hardware endpoint, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple dedicated handler functions into a single shared physical handler, reducing the total number of active processing units. This consolidation decreases power consumption while maintaining reliability through virtualization, which allows the single handler to efficiently service multiple hardware endpoints with dedicated virtual channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal handler implements multi-functionality by serving multiple hardware endpoints through virtualization. Instead of requiring separate power-consuming dedicated handlers for each endpoint, the universal handler uses software-based virtualization to provide dedicated service to multiple endpoints simultaneously, significantly reducing overall power consumption while maintaining fault tolerance.
4Device complexity
If virtualized channels are implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex physical wiring harnesses and mechanical connection structures with virtualized communication channels. Instead of requiring precise physical connections between each handler and hardware endpoint, the system uses software-based virtualization to establish communication paths, significantly reducing manufacturing precision requirements for physical connections while maintaining system reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
In an approach to virtualizing communication channels between one or more hardware components and a controller, a system includes: a first controller implemented in a reconfigurable hardware device; and a virtual platform stratus having a plurality of input/output (I/O) ports for electrically coupling with the one or more hardware components and receiving one or more electrical signals therefrom, and where the VPS is configured to generate one or more data frames from the one or more electrical signals; and where the virtual platform stratus is configured to send the data frames to the first controller and/or provide electrical signaling to the one or the one or more hardware components based on data frames received from the first controller.