Low overhead fault-tolerant FPGA systems

Abstract

Fault-tolerance is an important system metric for many operating environments, from automotive to space exploration. The conventional technique for improving system reliability is through component replication, which usually comes at significant cost: increased design time, testing, power consumption, volume, and weight. We have developed a new faulttolerance approach that capitalizes on the unique reconfiguration capabilities of field programmable gate arrays (FPGA's). The physical design is partitioned into a set of tiles. In response to a component failure, a functionally equivalent tile that does not rely on the faulty component replaces the affected tile. Unlike application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and microprocessor design methods, which result in fixed structures, this technique allows a single physical component to provide redundant backup for several types of components. Experimental results conducted on a subset of the MCNC benchmarks demonstrate a high level of reliability with low timing and hardware overhead.Index Terms-Field programmable gate array (FPGA), faulttolerance.

A Novel Approach for Providing Fault Tolerance to FPGA-Based Reconfigurable Systems

“…Most of the earlier works focused on tolerating the manufacturing defects and aging faults and manufacturing defects at either device level or configuration level using offline FT methods [2], [10]- [15]. However, provision of online FT is required to cater SEUs and software faults.…”

Abiding IPRs in Technological Implications for Pakistan

“…In an increasing number of countries, whether developed or developing, IPR has become a fixed plank in the notes address of the Government`s key office holder. It is in those countries, with a high level of awareness that the integration of intellectual property appears to be successfully in progress [3], [5]. The government should make it very clear exactly what its vision and strategy for the country is, including the goals and objectives, and the timeframe.…”

“…Therefore, successful IPRs protection is about producing effective, commercially driven results [3], [5]. Like any other facet of business, IPRs protection needs to demonstrate a return on investment.…”

Autonomic fault-handling and refurbishment using throughput-driven assessment

“…However, STARS is a successful example of a method that uses exhaustive online testing to realize regeneration. Methods proposed by Lohn [Lohn03] and Lach [Lach98] either rely on offline regeneration supported by exhaustive functional testing, or pre-determined spares defined at design-time. Of the methods in Table I, only Keymeulen, Stoica, and Zebulum [1] investigate the possibility of using a population-based approach to desensitize circuits to faults.…”