Characterizing the Tradeoff between Fault Tolerance and Cost of Redundant TSN Networks

Abstract

[eng] New emerging Distributed Control Systems (DCSs), like Substation Automation Systems (SASs) of Smart Power Grids, raise new requirements on their underlying control networks. To meet these new requirements, both Industry and Academia are promoting the Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) Ethernet standards. In particular, TSN includes mechanisms to exchange information simultaneously through several paths of practically any spatially redundant network topology. This topological flexibility can offer a better balance between fault tolerance (FT) and redundancy cost (extra number of components) than classical Industrial Ethernets. However, the mentioned TSN mechanisms may also increase the cost in terms of extra latency and jitter, which could jeopardize real-time communications. In this paper we show our ongoing work to experimentally assess this extra latency and jitter and, thus, characterize the benefits of TSN in terms of balance between FT and cost.