Cognitive and functional frameworks for hard/soft fusion for the condition monitoring of aircraft

The synergistic integration of information from electronic sensors and human sources is called hard/soft information fusion. Emerging literature is reviewed according to levels of the Joint Directors of Laboratories data fusion process model. Two frameworks are created for hard/soft information fusion for the condition monitoring of aircraft. First, a cognitive framework is adapted from Orasanu´s decision process model and Klein´s macrocognition. Second, a functional framework is adapted from the JDL model, and the data-information-knowledge hierarchy is juxtaposed. Levels of inference, machine capabilities, and maintainers´ capabilities are also juxtaposed to compare and contrast relative strengths with respect to JDL levels. In ongoing studies, maintainers´ information-seeking behavior is observed to make inferences about the cognitive processes underlying their decision-making and its implications for diagnoses, treatments, and resulting outcomes. Improved outcomes and reduced diagnostic effort may reduce operational maintenance cost, increase mission readiness, and increase flight safety.