An alternative approach to avionics diagnostics algorithms

A methodology for designing avionics system diagnostics has been developed that uses an automated failure syndrome approach coupled with a partial-pattern matching algorithm to simplify diagnostics design and to provide improved diagnostic performance. The method was validated by performing experiments using a flight control failure simulation and a simulation of the proposed diagnostics. Results demonstrate significantly improved failure isolation performance using diagnostic algorithms of modest size and complexity. The approach described is particularly applicable to emerging highly integrated systems such as modular avionics