Adaptive Lock-Step System for Resilient Multiprocessing Architectures

Lockstep processing, a cornerstone for ensuring functional safety in electronic systems, often grapples with challenges of over-protection and under-protection in dynamic environments and task requirements. Addressing this, we introduce an adaptive lock-step multiprocessing system that dynamically tailors its reliability based on real-time demands. Central to our design is a dynamic redundancy mechanism, seamlessly transitioning between dual-core lockstep (DCLS) and triple modular redundancy (TMR) modes, underpinned by real-time core fault monitoring. This balance ensures optimal efficiency without compromising fault tolerance. The proposed design has been verified through simulation-based fault injection experiences. Moreover, we also evaluated the adaptability of the proposed method under the common dynamic harsh radiation scenarios, solar particle events. Successful integration into an existing quad-core platform further underscores the practicality of our approach for multiprocessing systems.