A prognostic processor for predicting machine failure in avionics
electronics comprises prognostic capabilities in a single integrated
circuit, with a processor, volatile and non-volatile memory, clock,
on-chip and off-chip sensors and transducers, A/D converters, a common
I/O interface adapted to be employed in a network of similar prognostic
processors, and predictive Failure Analysis (FA) model software, which
may be distributed throughout the network. The FA software employs a log
file history, with the log file history storing data collected by the
prognostic processor, real-time execution of a predictive model, with the
ability to update the FA model with data from field failures. The
prognostic processor network supports hierarchical processing to work
with multiple prognostic processors. The prognostic processor system is
applicable to FA monitoring of a wide range of avionics electronic
equipment, in particular, Line Replacement Units (LRUs).