Digital controller redundancy using neural network fault detection

摘要

Primary and backup controllers for a digital process control system where the digital controllers operate in the synchronous execution mode and the backup controller includes a neural network. Since the backup controller receives its process inputs from the primary controller, during the time in which the primary controller is reading the process inputs and driving the control outputs, the backup controller is idle. This idle time is used by the backup controller to execute a neural network analysis on both the primary and backup controller process inputs and control outputs. The purpose of this neural network analysis is to identify normal or failed operation of both the primary and backup controllers.