Prognostics framework [for weapon systems health monitoring]

US Army Policy is outpacing technology capability in the requirements for systems´ prognostics. During the past five years, research and development (R&D) has been ongoing in the area of component prognostic techniques in laboratories, universities, and industry. The R&D has resulted in point solutions to specific items, but in general, they are expensive and provide limited system-level information. The US Army Logistics Integration Agency has funded the development of a “Prognostics Framework”. This “Prognostics Framework” is generic, open architecture, horizontal technology, and tailorable. The Prognostics Framework approach will save time, money, and program-specific funds. It is the fastest way to converge various prognostics capabilities into manageable information for the system operators, the maintenance crew, and logistics planners across Army systems. The Prognostic Framework, a system-level prognostic manager, ties-in to logistics infrastructure, (e.g., IETM, logistics planning, mission planning, and spare parts provisioning). Prognostics Framework will be integrated with embedded diagnostics to provide a total “Health Management” capability. This paper will provide the initial information about Prognostics Framework architecture, design approach, and a brief summary of the prognostic mechanisms survey