Transputer-based fault tolerance in safety-critical systems

Abstract

This paper discusses the implementation of fault tolerance in parallel processing systems for real-time safety-critical control. The vehicle for this work is the Inmos transputer, a 32-bit processor specifically designed for parallel processing applications. Methods of exploiting the inherent redundancy while at the same time utilizing the parallel processing power are described and the advantages and disadvantages of the Occam language and current transputer hardware are highlighted. Although this paper describes the application of gas turbine engine control the ideas can also be applied to other safety-critical systems.