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Robust Design is a proven development philosophy focused on achieving target reliability. Approaching this aggressive goal requires that Robust Design principles be an early and integral part of the development cycle. The objective is to make the end-product immune to factors that could adversely affect performance. Robust Design requires that the following four factors be considered in the design process:

1. Signal
2. Response
3. Noise
4. Control

Saber Accelerates Robust Design

Robust Design is a proven development philosophy focused on achieving target reliability. Approaching this aggressive goal requires that Robust Design principles be an early and integral part of the development cycle. The objective is to make the end-product immune to factors that could adversely affect performance. Robust Design requires that the following four factors be considered in the design process: signal, response, noise, and control. 

Robust Design Flow

Adopting Robust Design principles to improve reliability means making system performance immune to variations in design technologies, component parameters, manufacturing processes, and operational conditions. In a Robust Design flow, these variations become the noise factors affecting system performance. The method of control for each variation may be as simple as selecting high precision components or as involved as implementing new control algorithms. The matrix of possible variations and control combinations becomes so complex that the traditional design-prototype-test flow is not practical. Designers must move their design activities to the virtual world, where powerful simulation tools support complete system design and verification using Robust Design techniques outlined in the diagram below.

Robust Design Tool Requirements

Implementing an effective and efficient Robust Design process requires simulation tools with specialized capabilities. The key tool requirements are simulation support, model library support, modeling language support, and advanced data analysis. A simulator must have special, built-in capabilities for each of the steps in the Robust Design process.

• Simulator
  • Handle "stiff systems": > 10 orders of magnitude of time constants
  • IO buffer of IC, power electronics, magnetics, hydraulic , thermal
  • DSPs, ECUs, D/A & A/D
• Models, Modeling Tools, Languages
  • Components, Generic, Industry (VDA) , Custom (from supply chain)
  • State Diagrams, Characterization, Multi-dimensional TLU
  • MAST, VHDL-AMS, Spice
• Analyses & Results Management
  • Sensitivity, Statistical, Stress, Fault, Worst Case
  • Grid computing
  • Measurements, Calculations, Data analyses
• Methodology

Conclusion

Through the lens of Saber's capabilities, we've seen how Robust Design principles are applied to ensure system reliability. The process of identifying vital noise factors and determining control factors is central to the creation of a robust product. The necessity of specialized simulation tools for an effective Robust Design process reinforces the value of Saber in this context. With its numerous advantages, including efficient implementation of Robust Design analyses and quick virtual system design, Saber stands as a powerful tool in the world of Robust Design.