5th RTD Framework Programme

Success stories - IST

IST (Information Society Technologies)

Project details

Project reference:	IST-2001-32111
Acronym:	NEXT TTA
Title:	NEXT TTA - high-confidence architecture for distributed control applications
Subject Index:	Information Processing, Information Systems; Innovation, Technology Transfer; Telecommunications
Objectives:	Objective: The NEXT TTA project enhances the structure, functionality and dependability of the time-triggered architecture (TTA) to meet the austere cost structure of the automotive industry, while satisfying the rigorous safety requirements of the aerospace industry. By placing the safety-relevant algorithms, that are formally analysed, into intelligent replicated star couplers, NEXT TTA reduces the cost and generalizes the failure assumptions of the node computers. Event-triggered communication services are integrated into the TTA to increase the required flexibility. The synchronous programming environment LUSTRE and its toll set are extended for the TTA and automated worst-case-execution-time analysis is explored. CORBA compliant interfaces are provided in order to make TTA systems interoperable with the open information infrastructure. The limits of implementing the TTA with COTS components in the gigabit range are investigated. Objectives: It is the objective of NEXT TTA project to further improve the dependability and functionality of the time-triggered architecture (TTA). In particular the NEXT TTA project aims to: (1) enhance the dependability of the TTA by developing a new physical interconnection structure with intelligent star couplers; (2) integrate event-triggered and time-triggered communication within a single communications network while maintaining composability; (3) integrate the synchronous programming environment LUSTRE into the TTA; (4) develop highly automated WCET (worst case execution time) estimation algorithms; (5) provide a CORBA compliant interface of the TTA such that the real-time data within the TTA can be monitored remotely; (6) explore the limits of a COTS implementation of the TTA in the gigabit range. Work description: The NEXT TTA project will design a (replicated) star coupler with centralized bus guardian to isolate arbitrary node failures. This allows node computers to be composed of COTS hardware that need not exhibit restricted failure modes (the present implementation requires fail-silent nodes). All facilities needed to isolate arbitrary node failures will be contained within the interconnection network, particularly within the star coupler. To support certification, the critical software in the star coupler will be formally analysed. The integration of time-triggered and event-triggered communication will provide data channels with configurable quality of service while maintaining compose ability. As a proof of concept, the NEXT TTA project will provide a prototype implementation of a CAN protocol emulation within the TTA. This emulation enables the use of legacy CAN software in the TTA. Integrating LUSTRE within the TTA framework with appropriate tool support will give LUSTRE users more capabilities for distribution, thus widening the scope of LUSTRE usage. Extending LUSTRE partitioning techniques for dealing with non-periodic events will also enhance the scope of its usage. The automatic scheduling studies and WCET tools foreseen in the project will be yield code meeting fine grain real-time constraints. The NEXT TTA will develop CORBA standardization proposals to both the real-time service interface and the diagnostic and maintenance interface of the TTA. Having these interfaces integrated into CORBA allows accessing TTA interfaces via the global Internet. A TTA prototype cluster consisting exclusively of high-end COTS hardware will be set up to explore the fundamental performance limits existing with state-of-the-art hardware in the gigabit range. The project will pinpoint the performance bottlenecks and suggest approaches for implementing TTA systems beyond the one gigabit barrier. Milestones: The NEXT TTA project will produce: (1) A prototype star coupler containing algorithms to tolerate arbitrary node failures and to detect degradation of node parameters before causing a fault; (2) formal analysis for critical star coupler algorithms; (3) a methodology for integration of event-triggered and time-triggered communication, demonstrated by a prototype and supported by software tools; (4) a prototype implementation of the integration of LUSTRE into the TTA and tools for WCET analysis.
Start date:	2002.01.01
End date:	2003.12.31
Duration:	24 months
Project status:	Execution
Project cost:	4.44 million euro
Project funding:	2.98 million euro
Programme type:	5th FWP (Fifth Framework Programme)
Subprogramme area:	Computing, Communications and Networks - Real time distributed systems
Contract type:	CSC (Cost-sharing contracts)
Project URL:	http://www.vmars.tuwien.ac.at/projects/nexttta/
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Prime contractor:	Technische Universitaet Wien, Institut fuer Technische Informatik
Organisation type:	Education
Country:	AUSTRIA
Region:	OSTÖSTERREICH, WIEN
City:	Wien
Post Code:	1040
Address:	Karlsplatz 13
Contact person:	KOPETZ, Hermann
Telephone:	+43-1-5880118/211
Fax:	+43-158-69149
E-mail:	hk@vmars.tuwien.ac.at
Contractor:	Universite Joseph Fourier Grenoble 1, Verimag
Organisation type:	Education
Country:	FRANCE
Region:	CENTRE-EST, RHÔNE-ALPES, Isčre
City:	Grenoble
Post Code:	38041
Address:	621 Avenue Centrale - Domaine Universitaire, BP 53
Contact person:	TRIPAKIS, Stavros
Telephone:	+33-4-76634843
Fax:	+33-4-76634850
E-mail:	stavros.tripakis@imag.fr
Contractor:	University of York, Department of Computer Science
Organisation type:	Education
Country:	UNITED KINGDOM
Region:	YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE, WEST YORKSHIRE
City:	York
Post Code:	YO10 5DD
Address:	Heslington Hall
Contact person:	BERNAT, Guillem
Telephone:	+44-1904-432772
Fax:	+44-1904-432767
E-mail:	bernat@cs.york.ac.uk
Contractor:	Austriamicrosystems Ag, Drive! Business Unit Automotive
Organisation type:	Other
Country:	AUSTRIA
Region:	SÜDÖSTERREICH, STEIERMARK, Graz
City:	Unterpremstaetten
Post Code:	8141
Address:	Schloss Premstaetten, Tobelbaderstrasse 30
Contact person:	DE MARINIS, Marco
Telephone:	+39-050-754308
Fax:	+39-050-754301
E-mail:	marco.demarinis@austriamicrosystems.com
Contractor:	Universitaet Ulm, Abteilung Kuenstliche Intelligenz
Organisation type:	Education
Country:	GERMANY
Region:	BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG, TÜBINGEN, Ulm, Stadtkreis
City:	Ulm
Post Code:	89073
Address:	Gruener Hof 5c, Postfach 89069
Contact person:	VON HENKE, Friedrich
Telephone:	+49-731-5024120
Fax:	+49-731-5024119
E-mail:	vhenke@informatik.uni-ulm.de
Contractor:	TTTech Computertechnik AG, Software R&D
Organisation type:	Other
Country:	AUSTRIA
Region:	OSTÖSTERREICH, WIEN
City:	Wien
Post Code:	1040
Address:	Schoenbrunnerstrasse 7
Contact person:	POLEDNA, Stefan
Telephone:	+43-158-53434
Fax:	+43-158-53434/90
E-mail:	poledna@tttech.com
Contractor:	Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Computer Engineering
Organisation type:	Education
Country:	SWEDEN
Region:	VÄSTSVERIGE, Göteborgs och Bohus län
City:	Goeteborg
Post Code:	412 96
Address:
Contact person:	SURI, Neeraj
Telephone:	+46-31-7725237
Fax:	+46-31-7723663
E-mail:	suri@ce.chalmers.se
Contractor:	Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Measurement and Information Systems
Organisation type:	Education
Country:	HUNGARY
Region:	Region Desc. N/A(HUNGARY)
City:	Budapest
Post Code:	1111
Address:	Muegyetem Rakpart 3, PO Box 91
Contact person:	PÉCELI, Gábor
Telephone:	+36-14-632057
Fax:	+36-14-634112
E-mail:	peceli@mit.bme.hu
Contractor:	Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble, Laboratoire Verimag
Organisation type:	Education
Country:	FRANCE
Region:	CENTRE-EST, RHÔNE-ALPES, Isčre
City:	Grenoble Cedex
Post Code:	38031
Address:	46 Avenue Felix Viallet
Contact person:	MOSSIERE, Jacques
Telephone:	+33-4-76574740
Fax:	+33-4-76574585
E-mail:	Jacques.Mossiere@inpg.fr
Contractor:	Audi Aktiengesellschaft, I/EE-8
Organisation type:	Other
Country:	GERMANY
Region:	BAYERN, OBERBAYERN, Ingolstadt, Kreisfreie Stadt
City:	Ingolstadt
Post Code:	85045
Address:
Contact person:	KRÜGER, Andreas
Telephone:	+49-841-8941645
Fax:	+49-841-8984416/45
E-mail:	andreas.krueger@audi.de
Contractor:	Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire Verimag
Organisation type:	Research
Country:	FRANCE
Region:	ÎLE DE FRANCE, Paris
City:	Paris Cedex 16
Post Code:	75794
Address:	3, Rue Michel-Ange
Contact person:	JORDANOV, Jeanne
Telephone:	+33-4-76887924
Fax:	+33-4-76881174
E-mail:	jordanov@dr11.cnrs.fr

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Source: European Communities, CORDIS