ICEMS: a platform for advanced condition-based health management

Health management of a machine, such as a gas turbine engine, offers the potential benefits of efficient operations planning and reduced cost of ownership. It requires a tight integration of major health management functions, such as trending, failure identification, forecasting, life prediction, operations and maintenance planning. Since 1985, the U. S. Air Force has been using a computer program to facilitate the trending and diagnostic functions for its engine fleets. This program is called Comprehensive Engine Trending and Diagnostic System (CETADS). Scientific Monitoring, Inc. (SMI) has been sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop a suite of compatible, plug-in tools to enhance CETADS. These tools are configured as software modules, and are collectively called the Intelligent Condition-based Engine Management System (ICEMS). Alternatively, ICEMS modules provide comprehensive platform for equipment or machinery health management. In this implementation, it is a web-based infrastructure for condition monitoring and asset management.