This software toolkit is designed to model complex systems for the implementation of embedded Integrated System Health Management (ISHM) capability, which focuses on determining the condition (health) of every element in a complex system (detect anomalies, diagnose causes, and predict future anomalies), and to provide data, information, and knowledge (DIaK) to control systems for safe and effective operation.

An important functionality of ISHM is that DIaK is embedded and easily accessible. The software includes tools for distributed storage, evolution, and distribution of DIaK, and easy accessibility. For example, an intelligent sensor includes a TEDS (Transducer Electronic Data Sheet); processes for data validation and sensor health determination; communication capability to provide DIaK to other elements of the system; and to receive DIaK in order to improve its ability to validate its data and determine its own health.

The ISHM-Development Toolkit (ISHM-DTK) is an object-oriented environment that enables creation of a model of any complex system (or system-of-systems — SoS) for the ISHM embedded capability. SoS are defined as hierarchical networks of intelligent elements (sensors, components, controllers, processes, sub-systems, systems, etc.).

Integration is established by defining “Intelligent Processes” that represent models of processes that provide the means to check consistency of DIaK across the entire system. Multiple models of varying granularity and fidelity may represent a process, and they may be activated based on context. ISHM-DTK includes communications gateways to read data into the model.

ISHM-DTK allows for modular implementation of ISHM capability with almost total re-use of software. The toolkit also allows incremental implementation of ISHM capability where more and better DIaK is added as these become available or refined in the research and technology community. In order to accommodate legacy elements, such as classical sensors or components, intelligent elements may be virtually implemented in the software, or may use another software environment and/or computer in the network.

This work was done by Jorge Figueroa of Stennis Space Center and Harvey Smith and Jon Morris of Jacobs Technology.

Inquiries concerning this technology should be addressed to the Intellectual Property Manager, Stennis Space Center, (228) 688- 1929. Refer to SSC-00255-1, volume and number of this NASA Tech Briefs issue, and the page number.