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The progress of silicon integration has led to the ability to integrate complex systems on a single die. Integration of applications and different application software components on a distributed system-on-chip can be demanding unless one follows a structural system integration approach with architectural support from hardware. The ACROSS Multi-Processor System-on-Chip platform provides architectural means for integration, such as well-defined communication interfaces, deterministic communication schedules, fault-containment and error-confinement support. We present the non-functional requirements of a degraded vision landing system for a helicopter and show how the ACROSS Multi-Processor System-on-Chip research platform alleviates integration of software and system components.

The Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol is a de facto network standard for automotive applications. Since initial deployments in the late 1980s the simple low-cost bus topology and inherent flexibility of CAN have enabled it to capture the majority of low- to medium- speed networking traffic. Today most automotive engine control units (ECU) have some form of connection to a CAN network, and most automotive-centric semiconductors have at least one integrated CAN controller. However, as safety-related applications emerge, some of the advantageous attributes and features of the CAN protocol can lead to dependability vulnerabilities. This paper reviews the dependability of CAN and introduces a new enforcement and configuration strategy to augment CAN protocol dependability. The strategy enables standard COTS CAN node hardware to be used without modification.

The paper introduces an alternative guardian strategy for FlexRay Networks. Unlike current guardian schemes that require dedicated local or central guardian components, the BRAIN (Braided Ring Availability Integrity Network) guardian enables the guardian function to be integrated into a FlexRay controller. The paper provides a general overview of the BRAIN together with a brief review of the FlexRay guardian responsibilities. The BRAIN is largely transparent to FlexRay operation; however, a detailed discussion of protocol parameterization is included together with a general discussion of BRAIN-based FlexRay deployment considerations. Extensions of the BRAIN to reduce software middle layer and application complexity are also briefly summarized.