Early Detection, Isolation and Residual life prediction techniques for F/A-18 C/D actuator subsystem

"QSI and HR Textron, Inc. (HR) team seeks to provide prognostic models and techniques for relating detected incipient fault conditions in actuators to accurate useful life remaining by focusing on F/A-18 C/D servoactuator subsystem for aileron control.This effort emphasizes a systematic approach to adding prognosis with a goal of improving mission reliability and aircraft availability, by carefully identifying the most significant failures, trading off different prognostic techniques to achieve acost-effective solution. The end product of this effort is a complete diagnosis and prognosis solution that utilizes the sensors and capabilities that already exist to the greatest extent, while identifying new capabilities that can be easily added onboardor on ground support equipment, to achieve maximum mission reliability within reasonable cost. HR will provide: (a) high-fidelity nonlinear dynamic models of aileron servoactuator of F/A-18 C/D for normal and faulty conditions, (b) the domain knowledge onfailure modes, reliability and maintainability data and sensors, while QSI will focus on a systemic processes needed to relate "useful life remaining" predictions to detectable fault conditions in actuators, viz., assess prognostic coverage, identifyprognostic needs, sensing, design of tests for diagnosis and prognosis, inference and prediction. Prognosis and Health Management (PHM) Technology, as proposed by the QSI-HR team, should be imple