Cognitive Technology for Advanced Maintenance Navy SBIR FY2006.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2006.2 Topic No.: N06-108 Topic Title: Cognitive Technology for Advanced Maintenance Proposal No.: N062-108-0679 Firm: Qualtech Systems, Inc. 100 Great Meadow Rd., Suite 603 Wethersfield, Connecticut 06109 Contact: Sudipto Ghoshal Phone: (860) 257-8014 Web Site: www.teamqsi.com Abstract: This proposal is a joint effort between Qualtech Systems, Inc. (Wethersfield, CT), BBN Technologies (Boston, MA) and Aptima, Inc. (Woburn, MA). Our intelligent and adaptive maintenance-aid software solution will provide novel capabilities to streamline the maintenance task for technicians of all levels of experience. We propose to significantly enhance and integrate a knowledge-based maintenance and diagnostic reasoning engine, with an agent based software architecture that supports cognitive reasoning, and a user interface with novel human factors support. The integrated system will provide a support tool that streamlines the maintenance task by guiding the user through the optimal test sequence, while providing context specific user interface options to the technician throughout the process. The system will adapt to constraints imposed by the environment, the skill level and preferences of the maintenance technician, and specifics of the maintenance problem at hand. The software will learn from interaction with the technician, allowing the knowledge base for the problem space to grow over time, and the efficiency of the maintenance process to increase with subsequent tasks. The emergent behavior of the maintenance software will make the tool appear as a domain and maintenance expert as it guides the technician through the maintenance process. Benefits: The technology proposed for development in this Phase I proposal will support advanced maintenance capabilities that provide a technician unprecedented access to context sensitive knowledge, the ability to interact with a virtual expert, and supporting technologies to do so in a manner that provides highly effective maintenance workflow. The industries interested in the developed maintenance tool-suite include the manufacturers of all systems and infrastructure faced with complex maintenance challenges. A reduction in maintenance costs and downtime are desirable for both the military and commercial markets and a flexible cost-effective solution will be welcome. The first approach to commercialization would be to apply the capabilities of the tool-suite to similar vehicles, where modification of the application is likely to involve only the knowledge base. Targeted commercialization opportunities will include all Acquisition Programs, as identified by the SBIR Program Manager and the TPOC and our participation in the Navy TAP program, which could benefit from the technology. Return