Method for determining a reliability state of an electrical network, the electrical network comprising a plurality of interconnected electrical devices, the method including the following steps: a) identifying an undesired event at a given location in the electrical network; b) traversing at least one subset starting from the given location; c) identifying an electrical device of the electrical network; d) determining a list of events of concern that are associated with the identified electrical device and could result in the undesired event; e) determining a total unavailability value associated with the identified electrical device; f) repeating steps b) to e); and g) calculating a reliability state of the electrical network on the basis of the total unavailability values respectively associated with the traversed electrical devices.

A controller for controlling an operation of a system is disclosed. The controller receives an input signal indicative of the operation of the system and rotates a test signal multiple times with different circular shifts to produce different rotations of the test signal forming a matrix data structure with the input signal. The input signal and the test signal are time-series data having values monotonically measured over time. The controller is further configured to apply a sliding three-dimensional (3D) window method to the matrix data structure to produce statistics of the input signal with respect to the rotations of the test signal. The sliding 3D window method iteratively moves window over the matrix data structure to compute a value of the statistics for a segment of the matrix data structure within the window. Furthermore, the controller controls the operation of the system according to the statistics of the input signal.

Methods and systems for creating and modifying fault models, as well as methods and systems for generating and deploying diagnostic tools based on a fault model. The fault model may be edited in a logical and highly configurable manner based on the needs and preferences of a domain expert or other operator. The diagnostic tool can then be generated based on the fault model, and provides and enhanced process flow for use in maintenance operations.

A computer-based method for automated hazard detection for a technical system, the method includes the step of selecting an output failure mode of a component of a component fault tree of the technical system as a top level hazard. The computer-based method includes the step of generating a hazard information tree by means of a subtree of the component fault tree, wherein the subtree is selected by means of the top level hazard, wherein the subtree is modified by removing predefined nodes from the subtree and by enhancing output failure modes of the subtree with information from which component the output failure modes originate, wherein the modified subtree is saved in a memory unit as hazard information tree. The computer-based method includes the step of evaluating the hazard information tree, and providing a control signal comprising a result of the evaluation.

An information processing device including a CPU and a memory storing a program. The CPU generates a plurality of cause-and-effect models between variables based on a relationship between a plurality of mechanisms in a production process of a production line, a dependency between a plurality of events associated with the plurality of mechanisms, or a control-based relationship between the plurality of mechanisms, obtains a result of abnormality detection in the production line, calculates a contribution ratio of a variable contributing to abnormality in the result of abnormality detection, and estimates an abnormality causal factor for at least one of the plurality of cause-and-effect models based on the calculated contribution ratio of the variable contributing to abnormality.

An apparatus and corresponding methods for representing process alarms in a parent-child relationship includes an interface having an input and an output and a controller coupled to the interface. The controller is configured to access a hierarchal data structure through the interface. The data structure has at least one parent element and at least one child element, the elements representing at least one parameter in a control system. The controller is further configured to receive values of the parameter related to operation of the components at the interface and determine whether the received values indicate an alarm condition. If the received values do indicate an alarm condition, the controller is configured to access the data structure with the interface and identify an alarm element in the data structure that is associated with the alarm condition. The controller further determines, based on an examination of the alarm element, a cause of the alarm condition.

A method for generating a fault tree of a multi-component system is provided. The multicomponent system includes a logical-functional system layer and a physical system layer as different layers of abstraction The physical system layer may correspond, for example, to software and/or hardware implementing the functional aspects of the logical-functional system layer. The method first provides a logical-functional fault tree for the logical-functional system layer and a physical fault tree for the physical system layer, the latter having elements corresponding to elements in the logical-functional fault tree. Next, a mixed-layer fault tree is generated by combining aspects of both fault trees in a systematic way. The disclosed is particularly relevant for analyzing safety-critical systems. However, the present concepts are not limited to these applications and may be applied to general use cases where fault tree analysis is applicable.

Various embodiments include modeling a component fault tree for a circuit with an input-side and an output-side component. These include using a fault tree corresponding to a hazard for each respective component, obtaining information about the components of the circuit and a connection between components, and connecting the respective fault trees based on the circuit description. Each fault tree includes an input fault mode or a basic event and an output fault mode. The output fault mode and the input fault mode are each assigned to a component terminal. An output fault mode of the input-side component tree is connected to an input fault mode of the output-side component tree if: there is a connection between the assigned terminal of the input-side component and the output-side component and the output fault mode of the input-side component correlates to an input fault mode of the output-side component.

A method and system for localizing faults in an industrial process is proposed. The industrial process includes a plurality of components. The method includes receiving structural plant data from an industrial plant. A structured model of the process is generated from the structural plant data. Sensor data measuring characteristics of the plurality of components is also received. Parameters of the structured model are identified from the received sensor data and stored. Faults are detected during operation of the industrial plant utilizing the identified parameters and detecting changes in the parameters by comparing current parameters to stored parameters. The fault information is then displayed via a display to an operator.

Methods, devices, and systems for fault propagation in a building automation system are described herein. One device includes a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive an input associated with a fault occurring in the building automation system, execute a fault propagation of the fault using fault rules for the building automation system and causality relationships in a building information model associated with the building automation system, and generate, using the fault propagation of the fault, a fault output with respect to the building automation system.