Status and perspectives of prognostics and health management technologies

This paper briefs the potential benefits of prognostics and health management (PHM) in the light of its evolving history. The issues of PHM system-level application is outlined, and a cognition model for diagnostics and prognostics is built based on the integrity of man-machine-environment. By using this model, various diagnostics and prognostics methods are classified and analyzed, and a whole picture of PHM is drawn. Uncertainty is a critical factor of PHM, its requirement definition, quantitative assessment and verification methodologies are discussed. Finally, key issues of implementing PHM are cited with the goal of practical uses.