A Distributed Intelligent Agent Architecture for Gas-Turbine Engine Health Management

Control and Health Monitoring of complex systems such as Gas-Turbine Engines can potentially receive great benefits from the use of advanced software technologies. However, techniques such as Intelligent Agents, Neural Networks and Genetic Algorithms are predominately designed to optimally perform specific functions, while the rest of the functionality is better achieved using conventional techniques. In this paper, we describe the development of a simulation architecture for Gas-Turbine Engine Control and Health Monitoring. This architecture allows integration of advanced software technologies with conventional modelling techniques. The architecture is then used in the implementation of a complete Health Monitoring system that utilises Case-Based Reasoning to achieve Fault Isolation and Intelligent Agents to achieve Fault Mitigation.