Run-time error detection of space-robot based on adaptive redundancy

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present a novel algorithm to handle space environment induced errors in the space-robot software. Design/methodology/approach - The radiations in outer space may induce transient errors in micro-processors, this phenomena will make software behavior unpredictable, and the existing software fault tolerance methods have been restricted in non-multi-threaded operation systems, non-component-based frameworks, non-cacheable micro-processors, non-distributed environments, etc. A software model for space-robot software, based on adaptive redundancy, is developed and a corresponding run-time error detection algorithm is presented in this paper. Software was monitored and run-time transient error would be detected and processed. Findings - Experiments indicate that this method introduces about 30-35 percent time overhead and about 200-230 percent memory overhead. It also increases the fault detection rate to 84-92.5 percent. Moreover, the model and algorithm is effective in a realistic space robot environment. Originality/value - A redundancy model is developed and an error detection algorithm is introduced in this paper. Experiments demonstrate it can provide space-robot software with good protection against the radiation induced transient errors.