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TEAMS-Designer provides intuitive, graphical modeling, and testability analysis
Modeling how things could fail enables the engineer to design the diagnostic solution
QSI's teams, the heart of the QSI integrated tool set, is the software tool for test sequencing and design for testability analysis of large complex systems. The TEAMS Model captures a system's structure, interconnections, tests, procedures, and failures. The model links these failures to the system's built-in tests, troubleshooting steps and repair procedures.
Down-to-earth rocket science
QSI's TEAMS software was originally built for the aerospace industry and NASA. But no matter whether a system propels a spacecraft or an automobile, whether it generates power, carries data, refines chemicals, performs medical functions, or produces semiconductors, the conditions that cause the equipment to fail ("failure modes") can be modeled, analyzed, linked to test procedures, and used to generate an intelligent diagnostic solution.
Questions TEAMS can answer
What tests should be used, and where should they be located, so that all faults can be isolated in minimal time and/or cost?
What is the most efficient sequence of steps that will isolate the failure?
Are all the components in the system reliable enough to survive the entire mission, or are there any reliability bottlenecks?
Which components must be ultra-reliable, should have redundancies?
By aiding systems designers and test engineers to embed testability features, including "built-in-test" requirements into a system design, and by aiding the maintenance engineer to develop near-optimal diagnostic strategies, TEAMS contributes to better designs that reduce support costs and improve availability.
After a system is analyzed using TEAMS, the system's testability shortcomings (e.g., uncovered faults, redundant tests, ambiguity groups and feedback loops), and testability recommendations (e.g., test-point placement and buffer placements to break feedback loops) are marked directly on the functional model.
TEAMS also serves as an interactive tool for conducting Failure Modes, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) of the system. The TEAMS Designer interface also presents concise testability reports (text or graphics). TEAMS is unique in its ability to capture Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETMs) and Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) information for documentation and deployment in remote diagnostic/troubleshooting applications.
Interfaces To Other CAE Tools
A TEAMS model captures relationships between replaceable component failures, and how they are observed/detected. Where organizations already have this type of data in a structured format, or use a modeling tool that generates these relationships, it is usually a simple matter to import the data/model into our system. We currently have an XML import format and have experience importing Matlab/Simulink data. Contact QSI to discuss your needs.
More info 
Fault Detection and Isolation in the Non-Toxic Orbital Maneuvering System and the Reaction Control System, Aviation Week March 6-13, 2004 Big Sky, Montana 2004 IEEE Aerospace Conference.
Model-based Prognostic Techniques IEEE AUTOTESTCON 2003 Conference, September 22-25, 2003, Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, California
Multi-Signal Flow Graphs: A novel approach for system testability analysis and fault diagnosis, the original multisignal paper that won the Best Technical Paper Award in IEEE Autotestcon 1994. Note: This paper uses LaTeX fonts, and does not look good on-screen. This version is for printing only. Alternatively, download the compressed postscript version.
Multisignal Modeling for Diagnosis, FMECA, and Reliability, Invited paper. Proceedings of IEEE SMC 1998.
An Integrated Diagnostics Virtual Test Bench for Life Cycle Support, Proceedings of IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, Montana, 2001.
Information Integration via Hierarchical and Hybrid Bayesian Networks, An application of TEAMS modeling to counter-terrorism.