This new generalized approach to prognostics can provide an automated early failure prediction of an engineering system or its components, often in time to prevent occurrence of hard failures. This approach has been demonstrated in a proof-of-concept software prototype, shown to accurately predict anomalies in the Mars Explorer Rover’s (MER) power systems using archived and model data. The approach differs from other attempted prognostic solutions in that it can interpret any sensed system trend, and not just specific failure modes with previously developed physicsof- failure models. The software employs an iterative reasoning process that implements (1) methods of forecasting signals represented by streams of sensor, telemetric, and other monitoring data and (2) new artificial intelligence methods for performing prognostic reasoning. This approach affords the following capabilities:
- The ability to predict future performance in a variety of systems;
- The ability to distinguish between normal variations in monitoring data and trends in the data representative of significant deterioration of the system or its components, through correlation and logical reasoning;
- The ability to prognose, relating trends to specific fault modes and failures of specific components that give rise to those fault modes;
- The ability to predict times and likelihoods of failures; and
- The ability to reason through diagnostic models with missing, delayed, contradictory, or intermittent symptoms, all of which are typical in degraded systems prior to failure.
Underlying this approach is the observation that a typical prognostic event is imprecisely known in its early stages. This means some trends are missing or inaccurately predicted until details emerge, and potentially important symptoms must be tracked as the event gradually progresses towards a failure. It is crucial to follow the progression and to produce an unambiguous conclusion as soon as the event can be confirmed. Therefore, it is necessary to reason in an iterative fashion, incorporating monitoring data and additional system knowledge as they are acquired. The iterative process can be summarized as follows:
- A system deviation is detected by monitoring functions. The system is still operating, and no faults have yet been indicated.
- Monitoring data are buffered and sent to a forecasting engine.
- The forecasting engine predicts signal values in the future, and estimates the probability that each signal will cross a predetermined operating threshold, and the time at which this is expected.
- Signals that show evidence of significant trends are grouped according to its estimated time of failure and measures of confidence and consistency.
- The groups generated in step 4 are used as the basis for automatically generating hypothetical scenarios, each of which is a partial match to the current system state estimate. The software creates variations based on the observed trends, gradually eliminating those trends that are unsupported by accumulating data or those found to be of low probability after repeated observations.
- Hypothetical scenarios are evaluated against a predictive diagnostic model. Scenarios containing sets of trending signals that show no causal correlation are rejected, as they represent separate or spurious events rather than a unified prognosis. The scenarios that remain are ranked according to their probability of plausibility, numbers of missing or conflicting symptoms, and consistency over time.
- Surviving hypothetical scenarios are compared against new state information using a possible-mode calculator, by first predicting the expected system state implied by each scenario and then comparing expectations against actual system knowledge as it becomes available. At each step, scenario probabilities are updated and conflicting scenarios discarded.
- The process continues until one or more scenarios are self-consistent and probable enough to justify corrective action. The prognostic reasoner outputs the expected failure mode, the likelihood and expected time of occurrence, and, in case of remaining ambiguity, specific measurements that will determine the exact prognosis.
While this process can be characterized as intuitive, implementation of the steps of the process is not trivial and required several innovations. In particular, there is potential for an enormous number of hypothetical scenarios, and evaluation of any individual scenario against a diagnostic model may be a time-limiting step. Forecasting must be highly resistant to normal system behavior and normal variations thereof in order to prevent overloading with false alarms. To address these challenges, our approach uses efficient algorithms for power set generation, a high-performance rule-based system to represent state knowledge and system structure, and an automatic model generation method to store and update scenarios in a directly executable format.
We have demonstrated the method’s feasibility using a typical spacecraft power subsystem as a test case, proving the method’s ability to reason correctly and efficiently in realistic examples. We have tested the method successfully with as little as a single isolated and uncorroborated trend, and we have proven its ability to prognose trends to failure with simultaneous intermittent faults obscuring the source fault.
This work was done by Ryan Mackey, Mark James, Igor Kulikov, Raffi Tikidjian, and Han Park of Caltech for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For more information, download the Technical Support Package (free white paper) at www.techbriefs.com/tsp under the Information Sciences category.
The software used in this innovation is available for commercial licensing. Please contact Karina Edmonds of the California Institute of Technology at (626) 395-2322. Refer to NPO-44505.
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Generalized Approach to Prognosis for an Engineering System
(reference NPO-44505) is currently available for download from the TSP library.
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Overview
The document outlines a generalized approach to prognostics for engineering systems, particularly in the context of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It emphasizes the importance of predicting component or system failures with sufficient warning and specificity to enable preventative measures, thereby extending the operational life of spacecraft and enhancing scientific returns.
The architecture described in the document is divided into two main categories: Non-Traditional Research (NTR) for signal forecasting and NTR for prognostic reasoning. The integration of these components into a cohesive system is crucial for effective prognostic assessments. The document highlights the challenges faced in developing prognostic capabilities, noting that despite significant investment, existing technologies have primarily focused on limited applications, often relying on dedicated sensors for specific degradation types. This approach is inadequate for JPL's unique robotic exploration needs, where weight constraints and the singular nature of spacecraft limit the applicability of fleet-wide maintenance experiences.
The proposed prognostic architecture addresses these challenges through an iterative reasoning process that incorporates incremental system knowledge. The process begins with the detection of system deviations, followed by the buffering of engineering data and its analysis by a forecasting engine. This engine predicts future signal values and assesses the likelihood of crossing operational thresholds. Signals exhibiting significant trends are grouped based on metrics such as estimated time to failure and confidence levels.
Hypothetical scenarios are generated from these groups, allowing for the evaluation of potential trends against a predictive diagnostic model. The scenarios are refined through continuous updates based on new data, ultimately leading to the identification of self-consistent and probable scenarios that warrant countermeasures.
The document also highlights the novelty of the proposed approach, which includes the ability to predict future performance across various systems, distinguish between significant degradations and normal variations, and relate trends to specific fault modes. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for a complete architecture that integrates these prognostic technologies into a compact, real-time functioning system.
In summary, the document presents a comprehensive framework for advancing prognostic capabilities in engineering systems, particularly for aerospace applications, aiming to enhance reliability and operational efficiency through innovative reasoning and forecasting techniques.
