An apparatus for detecting faults in a system monitored by a plurality of
sensors is provided. The apparatus includes a hidden process driver unit
that generates a hidden process driver based upon sensor values received
from a group of correlated sensors selected from among the plurality of
sensors. The apparatus also includes a sensor estimating unit that
generates sensor estimates for each of the plurality of sensors based
upon the hidden process driver and a known process driver provided by an
uncorrelated sensor. The apparatus further includes a fault determining
unit that indicates a fault when a residual based upon a difference
between a sensor value supplied by one of the plurality of sensors and a
corresponding one of the sensor estimates lies outside an acceptable
range of residual values.