Fault and Defect Tolerant Computer Architectures: Reliable Computing With Unreliable Devices

This research addresses design of a reliable computer from unreliable device technologies. A system architecture is developed for a fault and defect tolerant (FDT) computer. Trade-offs between different techniques are studied and yield and hardware cost models are developed. Fault and defect tolerant designs are created for the processor and the cache memory. Simulation results for the content-addressable memory (CAM)-based cache show 90% yield with device failure probabilities of 3 x 10(-6), three orders of magnitude better than non fault tolerant caches of the same size. The entire processor achieves 70% yield with device failure probabilities exceeding 10(-6). The required hardware redundancy is approximately 15 times that of a non-fault tolerant design. While larger than current FT designs, this architecture allows the use of devices much more likely to fail than silicon CMOS. As part of model development, an improved model is derived for NAND Multiplexing. The model is the first accurate model for small and medium amounts of redundancy. Previous models are extended to account for dependence between the inputs and produce more accurate results

Zero-maintenance of electronic systems: Perspectives, challenges, and opportunities

Self-engineering systems that are capable of repairing themselves in-situ without the need for human decision (or intervention) could be used to achieve zero-maintenance. This philosophy is synonymous to the way in which the human body heals and repairs itself up to a point. This article synthesises issues related to an emerging area of self-healing technologies that links software and hardware mitigations strategies. Efforts are concentrated on built-in detection, masking and active mitigation that comprises self-recovery or self-repair capability, and has a focus on system resilience and recovering from fault events. Design techniques are critically reviewed to clarify the role of fault coverage, resource allocation and fault awareness, set in the context of existing and emerging printable/nanoscale manufacturing processes. The qualitative analysis presents new opportunities to form a view on the research required for a successful integration of zero-maintenance. Finally, the potential cost benefits and future trends are enumerated

Academic Year 2019-2020 Faculty Excellence Showcase, AFIT Graduate School of Engineering & Management

An excerpt from the Dean\u27s Message: There is no place like the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). There is no academic group like AFIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management. Although we run an educational institution similar to many other institutions of higher learning, we are different and unique because of our defense-focused graduate-research-based academic programs. Our programs are designed to be relevant and responsive to national defense needs. Our programs are aligned with the prevailing priorities of the US Air Force and the US Department of Defense. Our faculty team has the requisite critical mass of service-tested faculty members. The unique composition of pure civilian faculty, military faculty, and service-retired civilian faculty makes AFIT truly unique, unlike any other academic institution anywhere

Factories of the Future

Engineering; Industrial engineering; Production engineerin