Failure Prediction in Electronic Systems

If impending failures in aerospace systems can be predicted deterministically during a test or checkout period, action can be taken to replace or repair the defective parts and a mission failure averted. This has the effect of increasing the mission reliability of the system. There are several methods of predicting specific failures especially adapted to electronic systems, but also applicable to electromechanical and fluid systems and components. These are classified and discussed in detail, with examples. References are cited for additional detail. By way of background, deterministic failure prediction is contrasted with statistical failure prediction. The nature and definition of failure and related concepts are also discussed, together with the physical principles upon which the several failure prediction methods are based. Used selectively and collectively, these failure prediction methods can form an optimal failure prevention strategy for use in a system test or checkout program.