System-of-Systems development based on deterministic Ethernet
Lead Research Organisation:
CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY
Department Name: Sch of Aerospace, Transport & Manufact
Abstract
The proposed research focuses on advancing the concept of System-of-Systems (SoS) architectures by leveraging Deterministic Ethernet technologies, originally developed for mission-critical domains such as avionics and in-vehicle networking. Deterministic Ethernet ensures time-synchronous, low-latency, and highly reliable data transmission, attributes critical for enabling coordinated behaviours across distributed cyber-physical systems. This research addresses the emerging need to extend such deterministic communication capabilities beyond single-platform boundaries to establish interconnected, cooperative systems operating as a cohesive SoS.
The central aim of this PhD research is to investigate and develop a framework for constructing SoS architectures using Deterministic Ethernet-enabled subsystems, which synchronize their operations through a shared reference such as the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). A secondary objective is to evaluate the feasibility and performance of wireless integration within such a deterministic ecosystem, potentially enabling seamless coordination between multiple autonomous entities, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) swarms, UAV-to-ground station links, or heterogeneous mobile platforms.
Key objectives include:
1. To characterize the constraints and capabilities of existing Deterministic Ethernet technologies for SoS deployment, particularly in dynamic and heterogeneous environments.
2. To design and validate synchronization and coordination strategies among physically decoupled systems using GNSS as a global time and position reference.
3. To explore the integration of wireless communication mechanisms (e.g., TTE over Wi-Fi) within the deterministic communication framework to support flexible, scalable SoS configurations.
4. To quantitatively evaluate the performance and determinism of the proposed architecture through simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
Methodology:
The research will adopt a hybrid methodological approach, combining theoretical modelling, system-level simulation, and practical prototyping:
Analytical Modelling & Simulation:
1. Development of simulation models (TTech Own Development system) to assess timing precision, network jitter, and synchronization fidelity across multiple deterministic nodes.
2. Analysis of trade-offs between wired and wireless determinism under varying QoS, mobility, and environmental conditions.
System Architecture Design:
1. Specification of the SoS architecture including time synchronization, message scheduling, and failover mechanisms based on GNSS timing and Deterministic Ethernet standards TTEthernet.
Prototype Implementation & Validation:
1. Deployment on a Deterministic Ethernet Development Platform, enabling empirical testing of SoS behaviour under different coordination scenarios.
2. Incorporation of GNSS receivers and wireless transceivers to evaluate end-to-end system performance.
Use Case Demonstration:
1. Metrics such as synchronization latency, packet delivery bounds, and system responsiveness will be measured and benchmarked.
2. Real-world applicability will be demonstrated using UAV swarm coordination and ground-to-air data relay scenarios, where inter-node timing and reliability are crucial.
The research is expected to contribute both theoretically and practically to the domain of real-time distributed systems, by pushing the boundaries of deterministic networking into mobile, wireless, and multi-platform ecosystems.
The central aim of this PhD research is to investigate and develop a framework for constructing SoS architectures using Deterministic Ethernet-enabled subsystems, which synchronize their operations through a shared reference such as the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). A secondary objective is to evaluate the feasibility and performance of wireless integration within such a deterministic ecosystem, potentially enabling seamless coordination between multiple autonomous entities, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) swarms, UAV-to-ground station links, or heterogeneous mobile platforms.
Key objectives include:
1. To characterize the constraints and capabilities of existing Deterministic Ethernet technologies for SoS deployment, particularly in dynamic and heterogeneous environments.
2. To design and validate synchronization and coordination strategies among physically decoupled systems using GNSS as a global time and position reference.
3. To explore the integration of wireless communication mechanisms (e.g., TTE over Wi-Fi) within the deterministic communication framework to support flexible, scalable SoS configurations.
4. To quantitatively evaluate the performance and determinism of the proposed architecture through simulation and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
Methodology:
The research will adopt a hybrid methodological approach, combining theoretical modelling, system-level simulation, and practical prototyping:
Analytical Modelling & Simulation:
1. Development of simulation models (TTech Own Development system) to assess timing precision, network jitter, and synchronization fidelity across multiple deterministic nodes.
2. Analysis of trade-offs between wired and wireless determinism under varying QoS, mobility, and environmental conditions.
System Architecture Design:
1. Specification of the SoS architecture including time synchronization, message scheduling, and failover mechanisms based on GNSS timing and Deterministic Ethernet standards TTEthernet.
Prototype Implementation & Validation:
1. Deployment on a Deterministic Ethernet Development Platform, enabling empirical testing of SoS behaviour under different coordination scenarios.
2. Incorporation of GNSS receivers and wireless transceivers to evaluate end-to-end system performance.
Use Case Demonstration:
1. Metrics such as synchronization latency, packet delivery bounds, and system responsiveness will be measured and benchmarked.
2. Real-world applicability will be demonstrated using UAV swarm coordination and ground-to-air data relay scenarios, where inter-node timing and reliability are crucial.
The research is expected to contribute both theoretically and practically to the domain of real-time distributed systems, by pushing the boundaries of deterministic networking into mobile, wireless, and multi-platform ecosystems.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Nahman Tariq (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509450/1 | 30/09/2016 | 29/09/2021 | |||
| 2202593 | Studentship | EP/N509450/1 | 07/10/2018 | 30/04/2025 | Nahman Tariq |
| EP/R513027/1 | 30/09/2018 | 29/09/2023 | |||
| 2202593 | Studentship | EP/R513027/1 | 07/10/2018 | 30/04/2025 | Nahman Tariq |
| EP/T518104/1 | 30/09/2020 | 29/09/2025 | |||
| 2202593 | Studentship | EP/T518104/1 | 07/10/2018 | 30/04/2025 | Nahman Tariq |
| NE/W502819/1 | 31/03/2021 | 30/03/2022 | |||
| 2202593 | Studentship | NE/W502819/1 | 07/10/2018 | 30/04/2025 | Nahman Tariq |
| Description | In the literature, the importance of distributed system is quite significant where several methodologies and approaches have been looked at to improve the latency in time distributed networks.TTE network to improve overall QoS of the network. Some methods have been proposedto improve the overall QoS of all three types of traffic in the network; such algorithms and methods are proposed. Similarly, other researchers focus on optimisation of the overall traffic in the TTE network with various approaches. The studies indicate and point to how researchers utilize methods to enhance QoS in disturbed or mixed critical systems. Some of these time-dependent networks are Zig bee, Profibus, and CAN, where these networks rely on internal time to perform tasks to send the critical messages in the networks [10]. However, TT messages utilising external clocks such as a GNSS in a TTE network are not very well-investigated and remain undeveloped to date. In the TTE network, all required protocol mechanisms and network capabilities have to be provided, enabling the definition of deterministic dataflows with defined latency and jitter. In addition, the Ethernet switch will be required to implement all mechanisms to prevent unintended interactions among different critical dataflows[4]. For safety-critical systems, it is necessary to have procedures that can handle congestion-free paths for fault-tolerant messages. No frame is lost, and all the frames sent are transferred to desired end stations (ES) with predefined bounded latency and jitter. • Support a deterministic fault-tolerant network for safety-critical systems. The traffic congestions should be prevented for TT messages and clocks synchronised to one master clock. • We investigate the end-to-end delay of TT traffic having external clock scheduling, which is achieved by applying network calculus and design models for analysis and results from the TTE network. • By developing the idea of unicast/multicast virtual links (VLs) and robust bandwidth partitioning, which mandates every-stream of TT traffic monitoring and determining mechanisms. • I am investigating methods and techniques for utilising the ISO model's MAC layer to integrate the TT traffic in the TTE network. • Implement simulation configuration, which is verified and validated, is correct and can be traced to system integration and application communication requirements for the fault-tolerant network. |
| Exploitation Route | The outcomes from the research are useful many Aerospace and automotive industries where the proposed novel approaches can be used to improve Time triggered messages in the network with external clock to synchronise multiple system of systems. The objective is to present a general perspective on total system design, focusing on networking aspects, especially the integration of external clock synchronisation in a TTE network and system of systems (SoS). The following objectives are identified after carefully reviewing the literature study: 1. To carry out an intensive literature review for identifying gaps in the area of TTE networks. 2. Investigate and develop the technique for synchronising the clock from a GNSS to the master clock of the TTE network and study the effects of external clock synchronisation in a fault-tolerant TTE network and develop simulations to calculate the performance of the network. 3. Using the concept of virtual links (VLs) in a TTE network to create multiple networks as well as identifying techniques to be able to control multiple TTE networks (System of Systems SoS) from one primary external timing source (GNSS). 4. To identify the scalability of dataflows supporting Virtual links (VLs) in the TTE network and introduce the VLs with defined latency and jitter in the TTE switch for a fault-tolerant system of systems (SoS). 5. Investigate methods and techniques to introduce TT traffic in a wireless network standard (IEEE 802.11) supporting external clock synchronisation to control systems like Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) communicating with ground stations forming a system of systems (SoS). 6. Implement the network design, tools, and algorithm model to calculate maximum latencies in the TTE network for synchronising with an external clock. Also, verify and validate the results against implemented techniques. These are some of the critical points highlighted that have not been explored TTE network to calculate the latency with an external time source. There is no specific algorithm that calculates multiple delays |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Electronics Transport |
| Description | Determnistic Time Triggered Ethernet communication |
| Organisation | TTTech Computertechnik |
| Country | Austria |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Currently I am working on methods investigate how external timing source can be used with Time triggered messages for creating multiple system of systems The system provided by TTTech has helped In this regard for simulations and improving the QoS in a TT network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partnets have not made any contribution apart from providing the development system. |
| Impact | TTTech has been kind enough to provide a development system as part of my PhD. the purpose of this development system is to utilise the time Triggered messages in the network with exytrnal clock synchronisation for testing and simulations. |
| Start Year | 2018 |