A Control Theory Approach for Analyzing the Effects of Data Errors in Safety-Critical Control Systems

摘要

Computers are increasingly used for implementing controlalgorithms in safety-critical embedded applications, such asengine control, braking control and flight surfacecontrol. Addressing the consequent coupling of control performancewith computer related errors, this paper develops a composite computerdependability/control theory methodology for analyzing the effectsdata errors have on control system dependability. The effect is measured as theresulting control error (defined as the difference between the desired value ofa physical property andits actual value). We use maximum bounds on this measure as the criterion forcontrol system failure (i.e., if the control error exceeds a certain threshold,the system has failed).In this paper we a) present suitable models of computer faults for analysis of control level effects andrelated analysis methods, and b) apply traditional control theoryanalysis methods for understanding the effects of data errors onsystem dependability. An automobile slip-control brake-system is used as an example showing the viability of our approach.