Redundantskontroll

Redundantskontroll (redundant control) refers to the design and operation of control systems that incorporate multiple independent or diverse components to execute the same control function. The aim is to maintain correct operation despite partial system failures, thereby increasing availability and safety in critical applications.

Redundancy is achieved in several ways, including hardware redundancy with duplicate controllers, sensors, actuators, and power supplies; software diversity and voting logic such as N-modular redundancy and majority voting; and architectural approaches like active redundancy, hot or cold standby, or staged switching between channels. These configurations are chosen to balance fault tolerance, performance, and cost.

In practice, the development of redundantskontroll relies on systematic safety and reliability methods. Techniques such as failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and fault tree analysis (FTA) help determine required diagnostic coverage and safe states. Health monitoring, self-tests, and regular qualification testing support fault detection before failures affect operation. Certification and compliance projects typically reference standards such as IEC 61508 (functional safety), ISO 26262 (road vehicles), and IEC 61511 (process safety).

Applications are common in safety-critical domains, including aircraft fly-by-wire systems, nuclear plant protection, railway signaling, and chemical or energy process control. While redundantskontroll can significantly improve fault tolerance and determinism, it raises cost and complexity and may introduce risks from common-cause failures or maintenance challenges, requiring careful design, verification, and ongoing monitoring.