Hierarchical Diagnostic Fault Detection for COTS Subsystems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex systems, such as military aircraft, designed with Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) or Modified Off-The-Shelf (MOTS) components face limitations in testability, requiring enhanced diagnostic fault detection and isolation capabilities to accurately and timely identify failed components amidst ambiguity, especially in limited maintenance windows.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced diagnostic fault detection and isolation system using a divide and conquer flow control methodology, integrated with an Integrated Electronic Technical Manual (IETM), which verifies connectivity and functionality before testing, isolates faults through sequential subtasks, and optimizes testing by avoiding redundant tests, allowing for rapid and accurate diagnosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If COTS/MOTS components are used to design complex systems, then system integration efficiency is improved, but testability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex system into multiple hierarchical levels (system level, subsystem level, WRA level, component level) with dedicated test tasks at each level. This segmentation allows comprehensive testing of COTS/MOTS components while maintaining integration efficiency, as each segment can be tested independently with appropriate test tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary test management system that coordinates between the top-level system test and lower-level component tests. This intermediary layer (including the WRA level intermediary and component level intermediary) enables automated interaction and information exchange, resolving the testability issue while preserving integration benefits.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive testing is performed on all WRAs, then fault detection accuracy is improved, but maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by executing connectivity verification tests and prerequisite checks before conducting comprehensive fault detection tests. This preliminary action identifies and isolates obvious faults early, allowing the system to skip redundant comprehensive tests and reduce overall maintenance time while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements skipping mechanisms where, after preliminary tests identify specific fault conditions, the system rushes through to targeted diagnostic tests rather than performing comprehensive testing on all WRAs. This allows rapid progression through the diagnostic process, reducing maintenance time while maintaining accurate fault detection through focused testing.
3Productivity
If automated diagnostic interaction is implemented, then troubleshooting speed is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universal intermediary components that can handle multiple test tasks across different hierarchical levels. These multi-functional intermediaries (system level intermediary, WRA level intermediary, component level intermediary) reduce overall system complexity by consolidating diagnostic functions rather than requiring separate specialized systems for each test function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes feedback loops where test results from lower levels automatically inform and guide higher-level diagnostic decisions. This automated feedback mechanism enables the system to adaptively adjust the diagnostic process, improving troubleshooting speed while managing complexity through intelligent automation rather than rigid complex control structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for enhanced diagnostic fault detection and isolation is provided, wherein COTS/MOTS subsystems of a system under test are evaluated in a hierarchical manner providing improved test coverage and a reduction in ambiguity group size. The enhanced diagnostic fault detection and isolation method may proceed from automatic built-in-test to initiated built-in-test and finally to manual tests. At each stage of the testing, results may be evaluated to determine which, if any, components need replacing. The diagnostic system may report the results of testing in a fault log and/or a look-up table structure. The systems and methods of the present invention are suited to testing systems that incorporate COTS or MOTS subsystem components, and for use with an interactive electronic technical manual (IETM). Further, the diagnostic system is adaptable to a variety of subsystem interface protocols.