Embedded Parallel Processing for Ground System Process Control

Abstract

Embedded parallel processing provides unique advantages over sequential and symmetrical processing architectures. During the past decade, the architecture of ground control systems has evolved from utilizing sequential embedded processors to modular parallel, distributed, and/or symmetrical processing. The concept of utilizing embedded parallel processing exhibits key features such as modularity, flexibility, scalability, host independence, non-contention of host resources, and no requirement for an operating system. These key features provide the performance, reliability and efficiency while at the same time lowering costs. Proper utilization of embedded parallel processing on a host computer can provide fault tolerance and can greatly reduce the costs and the requirement of utilizing high-end workstations to perform the same level of real-time processing and computationally intensive tasks.