The overall goal of the IDS project is to research, develop, integrate, and test advanced diagnostic and decision support tools for maintenance of complex machinery. Technicians must deal with far more equipment diversity than ever before. Access to the right data, knowledge, and expertise at the right time is necessary to effectively carry out troubleshooting tasks. There are increasing amounts of data provided by newer generation equipment. Tools are required which aid in the integration and interpretation of data hence making it more useful.
Unscheduled maintenance is a persistent problem.
Significant savings could be realized through reduction in No Fault Found and repeat snag occurrences. To compete effectively, the airline must continue to seek practical cost cutting solutions. Assessment of equipment health will also support early and better identification and planning of optimal maintenance actions . For example, it might decided how to use the various diagnostic techniques in conjunction with the available data on the current problem. Standard software development methodologies are used throughout the development.