Advanced Diagnostic Software
General Description
| EDO's Advanced Diagnostic Software (ADS) is a Microsoft Windows®
based maintenance advisory tool that provides heuristic system knowledge,
gathered from experienced engineers and technicians, to advise maintenance
technicians on possible solutions to system malfunctions using a
modified Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) expert shell.
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| Our Advanced Diagnostic Software is designed to assist less experienced personnel in performing maintenance tasks. ADS does not replace existing documentation or equipment, it augments a technician's knowledge with captured high-end real-world engineering and technical knowledge on the system-under-test (SUT). |
ADS documentation, knowledge base, and maintenance tools are customized
for the system/equipment being maintained for a specific maintenance
level:
 |
Organizational level: provides
maintenance knowledge and tools that assists personnel in performing
tests, fault isolation, and system repair at the operational
area where the system is installed. Usually involves aligning
and/or replacing a major system part (e.g. display, receiver,
transmitter, antenna, sensor, power supply, operational software). |
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Intermediate level: provides maintenance
knowledge and tools that helps personnel test, fault isolate,
and repair major system parts in a laboratory environment. Normally
involves aligning and/or replacing a module (e.g. circuit card,
switch, power regulator, memory). |
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Depot level: provides maintenance knowledge
and tools that aids personnel in performing tests, fault isolation,
and repair of a module in a laboratory environment. Usually
involves aligning or replacing a module component (e.g. resistor,
integrated circuit (IC), inductor, transistor, firmware). |
ADS was originally developed to assist U.S. Air Force technicians
in performing organizational level maintenance on the B-1B AN/ALQ-161A
Defensive Avionics System (DAS). The expert heuristic knowledge
base, maintenance tools, and online documentation were developed
to specifically help less experienced technicians.
| Maintenance Information Tools (MIT) were designed
to: |
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Enable a computer/laptop with an applicable interface
card, running ADS to interface with a MIL-STD-1553B data bus. |
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Display Built-In-Test (BIT) codes, downloaded via the MIL-STD-1553B,
to help technicians troubleshoot the system. |
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Provide online Automated Wire Run List (AWRL) information.
The AWRL has a search function that provides rapid access to
wiring data including plug and pin designators and signal information.
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ADS is integrated with links between the EDO developed expert
system knowledge base; system theory of operation and maintenance
documentation, related electronic theory documentation, photos of
parts, part location diagrams, test equipment setup instructions,
and wire run list information.
The ADS design enables a technician to move freely within the
ADS environment by just clicking on links. For example a technician:
- Can select a complete system or subsystem test to run
- Follow a step-by-step knowledge base test procedure by answering
onscreen questions/prompts
- Determine there is a problem with the receiver subsystem
- Jump to the receiver subsystem theory of operation
- View pictures of the receiver subsystem's Line Replaceable
Units (LRU)
- Look at diagrams showing LRU locations
- View receiver subsystem wiring diagrams
- Jump back into the receiver subsystem test
- Review how to calculate RF signal gain or loss
- Continue with the test process and finish fault isolation
to one of the receiver subsystem's LRUs.
Another example of using ADS is found on the Automated
Radar Signal Simulator page.
EDO can customize ADS to support almost any military, government,
or commercial aircraft, ground-based, and/or sea-based system. ADS
can be developed to provide expert virtual engineering support for
almost any system located anywhere.
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ADS Features
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Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) expert system
shell that is modifiable to the specific application |
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CD-ROM based information tool, accessible from expert system
shell or by conventional means |
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Access to MIL-STD-1553B data directly from aircraft Aerospace
Ground Equipment (AGE) connections via COTS equipment |
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Interface with systems via applicable computer interface cards
and cables |
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