COMPUTER NETWORK FOR REAL TIME CONTROL WITH AUTOMATIC FAULT IDENTIFICATION AND BY-PASS

A computer network for real time control having redundant components for automated fault identification and automated bypass of identified faulty components. The system includes at least two main computers, each coupled to at least two independent parallel data channels. A plurality of satellite computer pairs are connected to these channels, each pair receiving information from a plurality of I/O racks which are connected to redundant sensors for detecting information and to redundant actuators for implementing system control. The main computers are continuously crosslinked and perform evaluation of their respective input and output streams comparing these streams for consistency between the main computers. In the event that an inconsistency is detected in the data streams, the system checks for faulty components to determine the origin of the inconsistency. The system utilizes an evaluation method whereby each main computer independently accesses each of the parallel data channels, satellite computers, I/O racks, sensors and actuators to locate inconsistencies in the data stream. The system then allows for operation with one of the redundant components while the identified defective redundant component is repaired or replaced.