Patent ID: 8868260

Claim:
A vehicle, comprising: a first virtual backplane; a vehicle management computer communicatively coupled to the first virtual backplane and having a first predetermined schedule, wherein the vehicle management computer is configured to add and consume data from the first virtual backplane according to the first predetermined schedule; a consolidated propulsion controller communicatively coupled to the first virtual backplane and having a second predetermined schedule different from the first predetermined schedule, wherein the consolidated propulsion controller is configured to add and consume data from the first virtual backplane according to the second predetermined schedule; at least one engine communicatively coupled to the first virtual backplane, each of the at least one engines having a unique schedule, wherein each of the at least one engines is configured to add and consume data from the first virtual backplane according to a respective unique schedule; and at least one control system communicatively coupled to the first virtual backplane, each of the at least one control systems having a unique schedule, wherein each of the at least one control systems is configured to add and consume data from the first virtual backplane according to a respective unique schedule, wherein the at least one control system further comprises: a thrust vector control system configured to control a direction of thrust of the at least one engine; a main propulsion system configured to control tankage for the at least one engine; a reaction control system configured to control a yaw and pitch of the vehicle; and a roll control system configured to control a roll of the vehicle; and the vehicle management computer is configured to transmit flight commands to the consolidated propulsion controller, wherein the flight commands are independent of a configuration and state of the at least one engine, independent of a configuration and state of the thrust vector control system, independent of a configuration and state of the main propulsion system, independent of a configuration and state of the reaction control system, and independent of a configuration and state of the roll control system.