Functional System Modeling for Automated FMEA and Fault Trees

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing complexity of technical systems makes it difficult and costly to develop, analyze, and monitor them effectively, with conventional methods requiring significant manual effort and time from domain experts, and existing automated solutions do not adequately address the need for efficient generation of analytical artifacts like fault trees and FMEA tables.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that automatically generate analytical artifacts such as fault trees, Markov chains, FMEA tables, and FMECA tables by transforming system evaluation criteria into relevant state patterns and using machine-readable functional descriptions of components, including port definitions and failure mode descriptions, to analyze and control technical systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional manual methods are used to generate analytical artifacts like FMEA tables, then the quality and accuracy of analysis can be maintained, but significant time, cost, and expert effort are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalysis accuracyVSAvoidtime for generating analytical artifacts
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical analysis processes with an automated computer-based system that uses machine-readable functional descriptions and automatic transformation algorithms to generate analytical artifacts, eliminating the need for manual expert analysis while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates machine-readable copies of functional descriptions and failure mode information that can be automatically processed and transformed into analytical artifacts, replacing the need for manual creation and analysis of these documents

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If manual expert analysis is used to create analytical artifacts, then comprehensive coverage of failure modes can be achieved, but the process becomes costly and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomprehensive failure mode coverageVSAvoidspeed of analysis
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes manual expert analysis with an automated computer-based transformation process that systematically processes machine-readable functional descriptions to identify and analyze failure modes, achieving both comprehensive coverage and high productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal automated system that can handle multiple types of analytical artifacts (FMEA, fault trees, Markov chains) through a single transformation process, improving productivity while maintaining comprehensive analysis capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If automated methods are used to generate analytical artifacts, then time and cost are reduced, but the complexity of implementing the automated system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation efficiencyVSAvoidsystem implementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses existing machine-readable functional descriptions as the basis for automation, copying and transforming this existing data into analytical artifacts without requiring complex new data collection systems, thereby reducing implementation complexity while maintaining high productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces machine-readable functional descriptions as an intermediary format that bridges between system specifications and analytical artifacts, simplifying the automation process by providing a standardized intermediate representation that is easier to process than direct manual analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3470944B1Method for providing an analytical artifact based on functional system description
Publication Date: 2022.12.14 SIEMENS AG
  • EP3470944B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3470944B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3470944B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A method for providing an analytical artifact used for development and/or analysis of an investigated technical system of interest comprised of components having associated machine readable functional descriptions including port definitions and component failure modes processed to generate automatically the analytical artifact in response to at least one applied system evaluation criterion.