AN EXPERT-SYSTEM APPROACH TO FAULT-DIAGNOSIS IN HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS

Increased interest in problem-solving decisions in the area of enginee ring leads to an increased demand for expert system applications. This paper presents an expert system that detects faults in hydraulic syst ems by simulating the reasoning of the expert, using as guide the hydr aulic circuit of the system on the screen and extensive graphical info rmation. A graphical user interface appropriate explanations by using hypertext and user modelling have been implemented in order to produce a system that overcomes the usual interface problems of expert system s in engineering. This system has been developed in close collaboratio n with the company Automation Systems SA (Mannesmann Rexroth - Greece) and is currently used to detect faults in hydraulic presses, a fact t hat presents evidence of its usefulness.