Reconfigurable interconnect infrastructure for multi-FPGA-based adaptive multiprocessing systems

Abstract

A concept for reconfigurable communication infrastructure for networked control systems is presented in this paper. The communication infrastructure consists of two communication protocols, i.e. wireless communication and wired communication protocols. The concept is dedicated for a hard real-time distributed parameter control system, where each local control module is implemented as a platform with multiple/interconnected reconfigurable and programmable devices such as Field-programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and microcontrollers. Adaptive networked multiprocessing algorithms can be further mapped onto the platform for specific real-time control applications. Data exchanges between multiple control units on a hardware platform are controlled by multicast-enabled switches that are also implemented on the FPGA devices. Data exchanges between platforms in a more complex system are controlled by a wireless standard communication protocol. The exchanged data can be sensor signals, actuating signals and system parameters. A bit-level parallel handshaking interface (PHI) adapter is introduced to handle the inter-switch data communication between the FPGA devices.