Evaluating the Performance of Fault-Tolerant S2A vs. In-Loop Controller Models for Ethernet-Based NCS

Two different controller-level fault-tolerant models for Ethernet-based Networked Control Systems (NCSs) are presented in this paper. These models are studied using unmodified Fast and Gigabit Ethernet. The first is an in-loop controller model while the second is a direct Sensor to Actuator (S2A) model. OMNeT++ simulations showed the success of both models in meeting system end-to-end delay and strict zero packet loss (with no over-delayed packets) requirements. It was shown in the literature that the S2A model has a lower end-to-end delay than the in-loop controller model. It will be shown here that, on the one hand, the in-loop fault-tolerant model performs better in terms of less total end-to-end delay than the S2A model in the fault-free situation. While, on the other hand, in the scenario with the failed controller(s), the S2A model was shown to have less total end-to-end delay.