V-22 mechanical diagnostic design approach

The author uses the V-22 tiltrotor aircraft requirements and diagnostic applications to demonstrate the unique requirements of mechanical system diagnostic design. He explores the rationale for the selected approach and indicates how the mechanical system diagnostic requirements affect the avionics architecture and performance requirements. It is conducted that, in light of the underdeveloped nature of mechanical diagnostics technology and the extended time required for a given mechanical diagnostic design to mature, future avionics system designs need architectures that are highly adaptable to accommodate the evolving mechanical diagnostics. Based on V-22 reliability and maintainability analyses, it is concluded that the incorporation of mechanical system diagnostics to the maximum practical extent in a carefully selected allocation of embedded (onboard) and ground-based diagnostic elements can achieve the goal of advancing mission accomplishment. The maximum practical diagnostics should be embedded without undue compromise of mission performance. For maximum installation efficiency, the avionics architecture should integrate the requirements for mechanical diagnostics