Prognostic Models for Avionic Power Supplies

Power supplies or power converters are found in practically every military avionic component. Failure of the power supply (unless redundant) causes failure of the served equipment. Power supply failures are mostly total and occur with no warning. Therefore prognostic measures that detect precursors of impending failure will provide a very substantial benefit in availability, logistic footprint and life cycle cost. In this proposal we describe a taxonomy of potential prognostic measures and assessment criteria. As part of the Phase I effort we will conduct the assessment and develop a cost benefit model that will identify approaches with the lowest cost-benefit ratio. The msot promising ones will then be further evaluated during the option period.