Operational characteristics of the dispersed sensor processor mesh

The dispersed sensor processing mesh (DSPM) is part of an experimental system used to pursue a proof of concept for an advanced fault-tolerant communication strategy. The DSPM experiments incorporate sensors and effectors into an ultra-reliable nodal network in which a central bus controller performs algorithms to grow and maintain the network. The experiments demonstrate that DSPM is an achievable communication network that can sustain failures and continue to function properly. The results of the experiment give insights into the unique characteristics of the DSPM network and the network's capacity to limit physical damage propagation, limit damaged-data propagation, and to survive cyclic communication paths. This paper describes the concept, mechanization, and performance of the DSPM system in a real-time flight-critical environment.