Sufficiency and necessity in reliability modeling

Limitations of current analytic techniques in estimating the reliability of life-critical electronics systems are discussed. A new framework for specification of recovery and fault-handling submodels is suggested, and is shown through several examples to provide substantially improved modeling accuracy and flexibility. Implementation of the new technique in an X-windows based system, XHARP, is also described. The implementation allows for an automated behavioral decomposition of full system models, heretofore unavailable in such tools

The SURE Reliability Analysis Program

The SURE program is a new reliability analysis tool for ultrareliable computer system architectures. The program is based on computational methods recently developed for the NASA Langley Research Center. These methods provide an efficient means for computing accurate upper and lower bounds for the death state probabilities of a large class of semi-Markov models. Once a semi-Markov model is described using a simple input language, the SURE program automatically computes the upper and lower bounds on the probability of system failure. A parameter of the model can be specified as a variable over a range of values directing the SURE program to perform a sensitivity analysis automatically. This feature, along with the speed of the program, makes it especially useful as a design tool

The semi-Markov unreliability range evaluator program

The SURE program is a design/validation tool for ultrareliable computer system architectures. The system uses simple algebraic formulas to compute accurate upper and lower bounds for the death state probabilities of a large class of semi-Markov models. The mathematical formulas used in the program were derived from a mathematical theorem proven by Allan White under contract to NASA Langley Research Center. This mathematical theorem is discussed along with the user interface to the SURE program

SURE reliability analysis: Program and mathematics

The SURE program is a new reliability analysis tool for ultrareliable computer system architectures. The computational methods on which the program is based provide an efficient means for computing accurate upper and lower bounds for the death state probabilities of a large class of semi-Markov models. Once a semi-Markov model is described using a simple input language, the SURE program automatically computes the upper and lower bounds on the probability of system failure. A parameter of the model can be specified as a variable over a range of values directing the SURE program to perform a sensitivity analysis automatically. This feature, along with the speed of the program, makes it especially useful as a design tool

Hierarchical object-oriented modeling of fault-tolerant computer systems

A hierarchical, object-oriented modeling language for the specification of dependability models for complex fault-tolerant computer systems is overviewed. The language incorporates the hierarchical notions of cluster, operational mode and configuration and borrows from object-oriented programming the concepts of class, parameterization, and instantiation. These features together result in a highly expressive environment allowing the concise specification of sophisticated dependability models for complex systems. In addition, the language supports the declaration of symmetries that systems may exhibit at levels higher than the component level. These symmetries can be used to automatically generate lumped state-level models of significantly reduced size in relation to the state-level models which would be generated from a flat, component-level description of the system.Postprint (published version

Advanced flight control system study

The architecture, requirements, and system elements of an ultrareliable, advanced flight control system are described. The basic criteria are functional reliability of 10 to the minus 10 power/hour of flight and only 6 month scheduled maintenance. A distributed system architecture is described, including a multiplexed communication system, reliable bus controller, the use of skewed sensor arrays, and actuator interfaces. Test bed and flight evaluation program are proposed

Fault-tolerant hardware designs and their reliability analysis

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.Fault-tolerance, which is a complement to fault prevention, is an effective method of achieving ultra-high reliability. By taking this approach fault free computation can be achieved despite the presence of fault in the system. In this thesis three new fault tolerant techniques are presented and their advantages over well known fault-tolerant strategies are shown. One of these new techniques achieves higher reliability than any other similar techniques presented in the literature. Generally fault-tolerant structures consist of four major blocks: the replicated modules, the disagreement and detection circuit, the switching circuit, and the voting mechanism. The most critical component in a fault-tolerant system is the voter because the final output of the system is computed by this component. This dissertation presents a new implementation for voters which reduces both the complexity and the occupied area on the chip. The structures of the three techniques developed in this work are such that the complexity of their switching mechanisms grows only linearly with the number of modules but the voting mechanism complexity increases significantly. This is a better approach than those schemes in which the switching complexity increases significantly and the voter's complexity remains constant or grows linearly with the number of modules because it is easier to implement a complex voter than a complex switch (voters have more regular structures). Extensive comparisons are made between different fault-tolerant techniques. A new reliability model is also developed for system reliability evaluation of the new designs. The results of these analyses are plotted, and the advantages of the new techniques are demonstrated. In the final part of the work an expert system is described which uses the knowledge acquired by these comparisons. This expert system is meant as a prototype of a component of a CAD tool which will act as an advisor on fault-tolerant techniques

Report of the IEEE Workshop on Measurement and Modeling of Computer Dependability

Coordinated Science Laboratory was formerly known as Control Systems LaboratoryNASA Langley Research Center / NASA NAG-1-602 and NASA NAG-1-613ONR / N00014-85-K-000

Aeronautical engineering, a continuing bibliography with indexes

This bibliography lists 419 reports, articles and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in March 1985

DEPEND: A Simulation-Based Environment for System Level Dependability Analysis

Coordinated Science Laboratory was formerly known as Control Systems LaboratoryNational Aeronautics and Space Administration / NASA NAG-1-613 and NASA NGT-5083