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In systems where the cost of failure is high, it is sometimes advantageous to duplicate certain critical components. This concept, known as redundancy, helps improve the overall reliability of the system by decreasing the probability of a failure. This document discusses a software method for implementing dual redundancy on a National Instruments Real-Time controller such asCompactRIO, Compact FieldPoint, or PXI. The Simple Dual Redundancy (SDR) component is a set of LabVIEW VIs used to implement dual-redundant control where one controller is active and the other controller is in “hot standby” mode. The controllers communicate regularly with one another via a serial link so that if one controller fails, the other will know to take control. They also exchange information about one another’s “health” so that the active controller can determine whether or not it is in the best position to remain in charge of the system.
