Finding Faults with Uncertain Assumptions

Keppens, J. and Shen, Q.

Proceedings of the International Workshop on Principles of Diagnosis. 197-203.

July 1998

Abstract

The General Diagnostic Engine (GDE) postulates plausible faults from given measurements by making extensive use of an Assumption based Truth Maintenance System (ATMS). However, it relies upon an entropy-based uncertainty calculus, separate from the ATMS, to compute optimal locations for measurements gathering. The practical usability of GDE is thus restricted by the statistical information required and by the strong assumptions necessary for making subsequent simplifications. In this paper, a simple numeric certainty calculus is integrated with the ATMS. The integrated ATMS, capable of handling uncertain assumptions, is employed as the unified basis upon which to guide the measurements gathering process of the dependent diagnostic engine. This enables finding faults in uncertain environments, while reducing restrictive assumptions on component failures.

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