DELTA: An Expert System for Diesel Electric Locomotive Repair
Abstract
In recent years, expert systems have become the most visible and the fastest growing branch of Artificial Intelligence. General Electric Company's Corporate Research and Development has applied expert system technology to the problem of troubleshooting and the repair of diesel electric locomotives in railroad running repair shops. The expert system uses production rules and an inference engine that can diagnose multiple problems with the locomotive and can suggest repair procedures to maintenance personnel. A prototype system has been implemented in FORTH, running on a Digital Equipment PDP 11/23 under RSX-11M. This system contains approximately 530 rules (roughly 330 rules for the Troubleshooting System, and 200 rules for the Help System), partially representing the knowledge of a Senior Field Service Engineer. The inference engine uses a mixed-mode configuration, capable of running in either the forward or backward mode. The Help System can provide the operator with assistance by displaying textual information, CAD diagrams or repair sequences from a video disk. The rules are written in a representation language consisting of nine predicate functions, eight verbs, and five utility functions. The first field prototype expert system, designated was delivered in July 1983 and is currently under field evaluation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADP003941
Entities
People
- H. E. Johnson Jr.
- P. P. Bonissone
Organizations
- General Electric