EXPERT SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED MAINTENANCE AIDING

REPAIR OF SHIPBOARD MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRES INFORMATION AND EXPERTISE NOT EASILY AVAILABLE TO SHIPBOARD MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. WHAT INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE IS GENERALLY EMBEDDED IN TECHNICAL MANUALS OR MAINTENANCE/REPAIR CARDS THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO DECIPHER, BULKY, AND SOMETIMES HARD TO MAINTAIN. A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWED FOR IMPROVED MAINTENANCE AIDING AND GUIDANCE TO NON-EXPERTS WOULD PROVIDE A MORE RELIABLE AND BROADLY AVAILABLE CAPABILITY, WHICH WOULD ENHANCE SAFETY, REDUCE COSTS, AND IMPROVE OPERATIONAL READINESS. UNDER TWO PHASE I SBIR CONTRACTS FOR THE USAF (F33615-86-C-5169 AND -5170), THE FEASIBILITY FOR A PORTABLE EXPERT SYSTEM AS A MAINTENANCE AID FOR THE FIELD REPAIR TECHNICIAN IN THE INSPECTION AND REPAIR OF COMPOSITES, WAS DEMONSTRATED USING AN OFF-THE-SHELF EXPERT SYSTEM SHELL AND A PC CLASS LAPTOP PORTABLE COMPUTER. IT IS PROPOSED TO BUILD ON THE WORK AND DEMONSTRATE A MAINTENANCE ADVISOR/TRAINER FOR ONBAORD SHIP USE. IT WILL BE PORTABLE, HAVE VOICE OPERATION, INCORPORATE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN DATA STORAGE, GRAPHICS, AND INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS. IT WILL DEMONSTRATE A SMALL SELECTED SET OF CURRENT MAINTENANCE AIDS.