Focusing fault localization in model-based diagnosis with case-based reasoning

Consistency-based diagnosis automatically provides fault detection and localization capabilities, using just models for correct behavior. However, it may exhibit a lack of discrimination power. Knowledge about fault modes can be added to tackle the problem. Unfortunately, it brings additional complexity issues, since it will be necessary to discriminate among a maximum of K^N mode assignments, for N components and K possible fault modes per component. Usually, some kind of heuristic information is included in the diagnosis process to focus the model-based diagnostician. In this work we study the combination of a consistency-based diagnosis system together with a Case-based Reasoning system. The consistency-based diagnosis will perform fault detection and localization. The CBR system provides accurate indication of the most probable fault mode, at early stages of the localization process.