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Embedded systems applications that are either mission or
safety-critical usually entail low- to mid- production volumes,
require the rapid development of specific tasks, which are
typically computing intensive, and are cost bounded. The adoption
of re-configurable FPGAs in such application domains is constrained
to the availability of suitable techniques to guarantee the
dependability requirements entailed by critical applications. This
book describes the challenges faced by designers when implementing
a mission- or safety-critical application using re-configurable
FPGAs and it details various techniques to overcome these
challenges. In addition to an overview of the key concepts of
re-configurable FPGAs, it provides a theoretical description of the
failure modes that can cause incorrect operation of re-configurable
FPGA-based electronic systems. It also outlines analysis techniques
that can be used to forecast such failures and covers the theory
behind solutions to mitigate fault effects. This book also reviews
current technologies available for building re-configurable FPGAs,
specifically SRAM-based technology and Flash-based technology. For
each technology introduced, theoretical concepts presented are
applied to real cases. Design techniques and tools are presented to
develop critical applications using commercial, off-the-shelf
devices, such as Xilinx Virtex FPGAs, and Actel ProASIC FPGAs.
Alternative techniques based on radiation hardened FPGAs, such as
Xilinx SIRF and Atmel ATF280 are also presented. This publication
is an invaluable reference for anyone interested in understanding
the technologies of re-configurable FPGAs, as well as designers
developing critical applications based on these technologies.
What is exactly "Safety"? A safety system should be defined as a
system that will not endanger human life or the environment. A
safety-critical system requires utmost care in their specification
and design in order to avoid possible errors in their
implementation that should result in unexpected system's behavior
during his operating "life." An inappropriate method could lead to
loss of life, and will almost certainly result in financial
penalties in the long run, whether because of loss of business or
because the imposition of fines. Risks of this kind are usually
managed with the methods and tools of the "safety engineering." A
life-critical system is designed to 9 lose less than one life per
billion (10 ). Nowadays, computers are used at least an order of
magnitude more in safety-critical applications compared to two
decades ago. Increasingly electronic devices are being used in
applications where their correct operation is vital to ensure the
safety of the human life and the environment. These application
ranging from the anti-lock braking systems (ABS) in automobiles, to
the fly-by-wire aircrafts, to biomedical supports to the human
care. Therefore, it is vital that electronic designers be aware of
the safety implications of the systems they develop. State of the
art electronic systems are increasingly adopting progr- mable
devices for electronic applications on earthling system. In
particular, the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices are
becoming very interesting due to their characteristics in terms of
performance, dimensions and cost.
What is exactly "Safety"? A safety system should be defined as a
system that will not endanger human life or the environment. A
safety-critical system requires utmost care in their specification
and design in order to avoid possible errors in their
implementation that should result in unexpected system's behavior
during his operating "life." An inappropriate method could lead to
loss of life, and will almost certainly result in financial
penalties in the long run, whether because of loss of business or
because the imposition of fines. Risks of this kind are usually
managed with the methods and tools of the "safety engineering." A
life-critical system is designed to 9 lose less than one life per
billion (10 ). Nowadays, computers are used at least an order of
magnitude more in safety-critical applications compared to two
decades ago. Increasingly electronic devices are being used in
applications where their correct operation is vital to ensure the
safety of the human life and the environment. These application
ranging from the anti-lock braking systems (ABS) in automobiles, to
the fly-by-wire aircrafts, to biomedical supports to the human
care. Therefore, it is vital that electronic designers be aware of
the safety implications of the systems they develop. State of the
art electronic systems are increasingly adopting progr- mable
devices for electronic applications on earthling system. In
particular, the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) devices are
becoming very interesting due to their characteristics in terms of
performance, dimensions and cost.
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