Failure prediction by marginal checking

As part of a study to determine the feasibility of operationally detecting incipient avionic system/subsystem failures and predicting actual failures, the concept of marginal checking was developed. Incipient-failure detection and failure prediction is termed marginal checking. Marginal checking is characterized as an evaluation of system/subsystem health by analysis of changes in observable mechanical and electrical parameters that can be correlated with subsequent failures. The degree of parameter change is then used to determine whether or not a system failure is imminent. The rationale for marginal checking and experimental effort underway to demonstrate feasibility is reported