Development of a Framework for Predicting Life of Mechanical Systems: Life Extension Analysis and Prognostics (LEAP)

Prognostics is the process of predicting the future state of a system. Prognostics systems comprise sensors, a data acquisition system, and microprocessor-based software to perform sensor fusion, analysis, and reporting/interpreting of results with little or no human intervention in real-time or near real-time. It offers the promise of minimizing failures (especially failures “in the field”), extending the time between maintenance overhauls, and reducing life-cycle costs. But prognostics is still in a research and development phase, and implementing prognostics is a monumental task on several levels—the technical challenges involving hardware and sensor technologies, the analytical challenges involving predictive methods, and the logistical challenges centering on how to make use of prognostic information.