Software solution to detect faults and train next generation engineers

The EVES (Evolutionary Virtual Expert System) project will see the design and development of an automated fault diagnostic system integrated into an industrial data platform which is expected to assist engineers by speeding up communication responses and feedback of incoming site data.

The system is being created by researchers at the University of Lincoln in partnership with Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery, thanks to a First Investigator Award of almost £100,000 from EPSRC.

Using data provided by Siemens, the team at Lincoln will develop a software solution to detect failures in gas turbines with a combination of expert systems which have the ability to acquire experience, and other artificial intelligence techniques.

The systems will begin as ‘virtual apprentices’ who will be trained by human engineers through coaching, examining and refining processes until they are ready to be promoted to the ‘virtual experts’.

The virtual experts will ‘learn’ to make sound judgements, integrating the strengths of precision, learning ability, adaptability and knowledge sharing with other systems.