Advanced Techniques for Verification and Validation of Prognostic and Health Management (PHM) Capabilities

Impact Technologies, in collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology, propose to develop and implement an advanced, open-systems (OSA-CBM) software simulation environment for Verification and Validation (V&V) of prognostics and health management (PHM) technologies for the F-35 (JSF). The PHM V&V testing environment will include the capability to model sensor signals, fault detection and prediction algorithms, as well as reasoner technologies directly within a dynamic simulation software application. Through the open-systems ability to "plug-`n play" various PHM algorithms into a dynamic simulation environment, the PHM application system under test can be comprehensively analyzed with specific prognostic metrics developed to support PHM maturation and validation over the system's life cycle. A key aspect of the V&V approach is that it will be implemented with the COTS Simulink environment so that all PHM system suppliers will have the capability to access, integrate, test and validate their models and PHM technologies. Specifically, the core innovations of this project include: 1) Developing an open-systems test bench to enable "plug `n play" PHM module integration; 2) Developing performance and effectiveness metrics for fault diagnosis, prognosis and reasoning; and 3) Developing a full dynamic validation of PHM capabilities using statistical techniques, intuitive visualization and animation. By the end of Phase I, Impact will demonstrate the advanced V&V technologies using PHM software provided by JSF subsystem suppliers.