Method and apparatus for communication within control systems

A drive-by-communication-signal vehicle includes a driver interface subsystem having a sensor responsive to an operational characteristic of the driver interface subsystem, a controller responsive to the sensor, a vehicle subsystem responsive to the controller, and a communication channel in signal communication with the driver interface subsystem, the controller, and the vehicle subsystem. The controller includes a storage medium, a processing circuit, and a clock synchronization mechanism defining synchronous communication cycles, with each communication cycle defining at least one time interval. The storage medium, being readable by the processing circuit, stores instructions for execution by the processing circuit for executing and communicating ordered tasks within defined time intervals with flexible task scheduling.