This article presents an integrative, theoretically grounded framework for software-centric transient fault tolerance in multicore embedded systems, with an emphasis on automotive zonal controllers and real-time multimedia platforms. The framework synthesizes thread replication, n-modular redundancy, checkpoint/rollback strategies, and hybrid mitigation approaches to produce a cohesive design methodology that balances reliability, performance, energy consumption, and implementation cost. The paper first outlines the fundamental physical and architectural sources of transient faults in contemporary semiconductor processes and embedded platforms, then systematically examines software-level detection and mitigation techniques reported in the literature. Building on these foundations, a detailed method is proposed for selecting and composing fault tolerance mechanisms according to system constraints such as timing budgets, safety integrity levels, power envelope, and hardware support (e.g., ARM Cortex-A series, Zynq-7000 SoCs). The proposed method includes precise procedures for thread replication placement, lightweight output comparison, adaptive replication factor adjustment, and hybrid checkpoint strategies that combine forward error detection with limited rollback. A descriptive evaluation synthesizes expected outcomes—detection latency, false positive/negative tradeoffs, worst-case execution overheads, and energy impacts—by mapping method choices to known experimental results and theoretical models. The discussion interrogates tradeoffs, considers counterarguments (e.g., hardware redundancy superiority, worst-case real-time violations), and lays out a research agenda bridging theory and practice. The conclusion distills actionable guidelines for system architects seeking to integrate software-centric fault tolerance into modern automotive and embedded platforms while preserving real-time guarantees.

transient faults, software fault tolerance, multicore, thread replication, automotive zonal controllers

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