Tackling the “No Fault Found” Dilemma in Avionics with Advanced Test Solutions
The phrase “No Fault Found” is a common yet frustrating outcome for technicians and engineers working in avionics. In his insightful article for Avionics International entitled Perspectives: Finding ‘No Fault’, Ken Anderson, CEO of Universal Synaptics, sheds light on the critical challenges posed by intermittent faults and the necessity for effective solutions to detect and resolve these issues.
The Persistent Challenge of Intermittent Faults
Intermittent faults are among the most challenging issues to address in the maintenance of avionics systems. These faults, which can arise in crucial components like wire harnesses, LRUs (Line Replaceable Units), and WRAs (Weapon Replaceable Assemblies), often elude detection during standard testing procedures using conventional sell-off Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) or Automatic Test Systems (ATS). The result is the notorious “No Fault Found” scenario, where the fault fails to manifest during testing, leading to unresolved issues that can compromise the reliability and safety of the aircraft.
Universal Synaptics President & CEO, Ken Anderson’s, Perspective
In the article, Anderson delves into the complexities of dealing with intermittent faults, emphasizing the importance of advanced testing methods and thinking outside of the conventional methods, something that is very difficult within the Department of Defense and Commercial Aviation industries. He discusses how traditional, functional test equipment often falls short in detecting these elusive faults, resulting in repeated maintenance cycles and increased operational costs. Anderson argues that to overcome these challenges, the aviation industry must adopt more sophisticated testing solutions that can accurately identify and isolate intermittent faults.
Advanced Test Equipment: A Solution to Intermittence
At Universal Synaptics, state-of-the-art automatic test equipment specifically designed and developed to address the challenges highlighted by Anderson. Intermittent Fault Detection & Isolation System 2.0 (IFDIS 2.0) is a revolutionary technology that provides technicians with the ability to detect and isolate intermittent faults that would otherwise go unnoticed, as well as conducting conventional wire and component tests such as continuity and shorts. By incorporating the Portable Intermittent Fault Detector (PIFD), this testing technology can be conducted directly on the aircraft, ensuring that faults in harnesses and Electrical Wiring Interconnect Systems (EWIS) are identified in real-time without the need for disassembly.
Enhancing Accuracy with Test Program Sets (TPS) through AutoMap
One of the key points Anderson makes is the importance of comprehensive testing that covers all potential fault points. To achieve this, Universal Synaptics integrates Test Program Sets (TPS) development through AutoMap, an Artificial Intelligence application standard within the Synapse™ software test suite, that develops the as-wired configuration TPS or “gold map” with no potential for human error or need for software hard-coding. These TPS are developed to work seamlessly with the IFDIS 2.0 test stand and PIFD wire testers for LRU and WRA chassis and wire tests, ensuring that every component and harness undergoes thorough evaluation with guaranteed accurate Test Program Sets. This minimizes the risk of a “No Fault Found” result, allows for much needed configuration control, minimizes software TPS development cost, enhances overall system reliability, and allows for rapid plug-and-play testing for root cause identification of intermittence.
A Commitment to Testing Excellence
As Anderson highlights in his article, resolving intermittent faults is crucial for maintaining the operational readiness of modern aircraft. At Universal Synaptics, innovative solutions are at the forefront to make intermittent fault detection more reliable and effective than ever before. Company commitment to excellence drives continuous advancement of the technology to meet the evolving needs of the aviation industry.
For more insights on how our Intermittent Fault Detection solutions can enhance your maintenance operations, visit www.usynaptics.com.
References: Anderson, K. (2010, February 1). Perspectives: Finding No Fault. Avionics International. Retrieved from https://www.aviationtoday.com/2010/02/01/perspectives-finding-no-fault/