A Pattern Recognition Approach to Fault Isolation

A pattern recognition technique has been devised for the problem of equipment fault isolation. Implementation of this technique has been successfully programmed on a large general purpose computer and an evaluation has been made with data obtained on a 5-element circuit. Results conform closely to theoretical expectation. Indications of the practical limitations of the technique were obtained from some non-successful fault isolation attempts and areas were uncovered for refining and improving the technique. It would appear that although sequential testing still has an important role in automatic testing, pattern recognition may be a worthwhile and significant addition to the arsenal of fault isolation techniques in an era in which accessibility of equipment for testing is becoming increasingly difficult.