The reliability analysis of an autonomous system completing a specified task can be performed by applying phased mission analysis. The mission consists of many consecutive, non-overlapping phases, and mission success requires each phase to be successfully completed. An example of a phased mission is the flight of an aircraft. In the aeronautical industry considerable focus is currently placed on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which it is anticipated will one day be operated routinely in civil airspace. Safety is a fundamental requirement of UAVs operated in such a way and the prediction of the mission reliability of these systems will be the focus of this paper. As component or sub-system failures occur or the operating environment changes this new method can be used for performing real-time prognoses of immediate and future capabilities of a UAV. This information can be provided to the decision making process when quick and rational decisions are required in order to preserve safety and achieve the highest level of UAV mission success. The methodology is demonstrated in a simple example of a UAV mission and some requirements in the implementation of the method are discussed in this paper.
A reliability analysis and decision making process for autonomous systems
2008
7 Seiten, 6 Bilder, 11 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch