How can you design and implement redundancy mechanisms for civil aviation?

3 Implement the redundancy logic

The third step is to implement the logic that controls the redundancy mechanisms, that is, the rules and algorithms that determine when and how to switch between the redundant components or systems. You need to design the logic that monitors the status and performance of each component or system, detects and isolates failures, and selects the best available source of information or output. You also need to consider the human factors, such as the pilot's awareness, feedback, and intervention, and provide clear and consistent indications and alerts. You should also test and validate the logic under various scenarios and conditions, and ensure that it does not introduce new failures or hazards.

4 Optimize the redundancy performance

The fourth step is to optimize the performance of your redundancy mechanisms, that is, to balance the benefits and costs of redundancy, and to achieve the best trade-off between safety, reliability, efficiency, and complexity. You need to evaluate the performance of your redundancy mechanisms using metrics such as availability, reliability, maintainability, and safety. You also need to consider the factors that affect the performance, such as the failure rates, the switching times, the compatibility, and the interference of the redundant components or systems. You should also look for ways to improve the performance, such as reducing the failures, increasing the diversity, and enhancing the logic.

5 Manage the redundancy risks

The fifth step is to manage the risks associated with redundancy mechanisms, that is, to identify and mitigate the potential threats and vulnerabilities that may compromise the redundancy mechanisms or their effectiveness. You need to conduct a risk assessment of your redundancy mechanisms, and consider the possible causes and consequences of redundancy failures, such as common mode failures, latent failures, cascading failures, and human errors. You should also implement risk mitigation strategies, such as fault tolerance, fault detection, fault isolation, and fault recovery, and ensure that they are aligned with the system's safety objectives and requirements.

6 Update the redundancy mechanisms

The sixth step is to update the redundancy mechanisms as your system evolves, that is, to adapt and modify the redundancy mechanisms according to the changes and improvements in your system or in the environment. You need to monitor and review the performance and the risks of your redundancy mechanisms, and collect and analyze the data and the feedback from the system's operation and maintenance. You should also identify and implement the opportunities and the needs for updating the redundancy mechanisms, such as adding or replacing components or systems, upgrading or modifying the logic, or changing the requirements or the standards.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?