NASA SBIR 2005 Solicitation

SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (Firm Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Sentient Corporation
850 Energy Drive
Idaho Falls ,ID 83401 - 1563
(208) 522 - 8560

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Sean   Marble
smarble@sentientscience.com
850 Energy Drive
Idaho Falls, ID  83401 -1563
(208) 522 - 8560

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)
Diagnostic and prognostic algorithms for many aircraft subsystems are steadily maturing. Unfortunately there is little experience integrating these technologies into a complete and practical on-board prognosis system, and integration often proceeds in an ad-hoc manner. Sentient Corporation proposes to develop a general-purpose architecture and set of reusable algorithms for integrating diagnostics and predictive models into an efficient and highly accurate prognostic system. The architecture is based on a flexible and powerful model updating algorithm that provides optimal fusion of diagnostics with model-based state indications and minimization of uncertainty in remaining life predictions. This project will focus on development of several key features of that algorithm, including automatic recognition of a failure that is not progressing according to the physical model, and practical considerations for on-board use such as minimizing computational and memory requirements. By the end of Phase II, Sentient will demonstrate a working prototype of an on-board prognostic system developed using the proposed architecture and tools. This demonstration will use diagnostic and model algorithms developed under the DARPA Prognosis Program, and will be compared to a large set of fault data for turbine engine and subscale bearings.

POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (LIMIT 150 WORDS)
This general-purpose set of reusable tools and code will substantially reduce the time and cost of developing on-board prognostics for new aircraft and spacecraft health management systems, while helping to ensure robust and accurate performance of the final system. Any system that uses sensor-based diagnostics to indicate state and models to predict fault progression would benefit from the proposed toolset. This includes vehicle health management systems in spacecraft, launch vehicles, propulsion systems, and similar applications.

POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (LIMIT 150 WORDS)
The proposed toolset will have extensive military and commercial applications. Aircraft and specifically propulsion systems are currently leading the way in implementation of new prognostic health monitoring technologies. Programs such as the Joint Strike Fighter will likely be first to adopt these architectures and tools, followed by other military/commercial aircraft and shipboard/industrial equipment markets. Sentient will strive to eventually make the architecture the de facto standard for prognostics by utilizing open interfaces and providing robust plug-and-play components.

NASA's technology taxonomy has been developed by the SBIR-STTR program to disseminate awareness of proposed and awarded R/R&D in the agency. It is a listing of over 100 technologies, sorted into broad categories, of interest to NASA.

TECHNOLOGY TAXONOMY MAPPING

Aircraft Engines Autonomous Control and Monitoring Autonomous Reasoning/Artificial Intelligence Data Acquisition and End-to-End-Management On-Board Computing and Data Management Pilot Support Systems Portable Data Acquisition or Analysis Tools