A Grid based Diagnostics and Prognosis System for Rolls Royce 
Aero Engines: The DAME Project.

Professor Jim Austin
Professor of Neural Computation
Advanced Computer Architectures Group
Department of Computer Science
University of York
York, YO10 5DD, UK

This talk will describe an implementation of a distributed data 
intensive Grid application aimed at diagnosis and prognosis of 
Rolls-Royce Aero Engines. Undertaken in partnership with Rolls-Royce, 
Data Systems and Solutions and Cybula Ltd. with four UK Universities 
(York, Sheffield, Leeds and Oxford), the Distributed Aircraft 
Maintenance Environment (DAME) has been a major UK Pilot project 
to demonstrate the capability of Grids in engineering applications.

The DAME system is based on a number of existing technologies, 
Quote (on wing Diagnostic system, AURA (scalable pattern matching
 technology) and CBR (existing expert systems methods). These have 
been combined into a scalable system supported using Grid middleware. 
The project has been undertaken in close partnership with Rolls-Royce 
and has been aimed at utilising large amounts of vibration and 
performance data available from modern aero-engines for fleet based 
diagnostics. The Grid provides the infrastructure to allow reuse of 
the data between aircraft to enhance the accuracy and speed of 
diagnosis of possible problems. The talk will overview the project, 
its objectives, component services and how they have been integrated 
into the DAME system.



Prof. Austin has directed the Advanced Computer Architectures group 
for over 15 years.  He has over 170 publications. He has worked on many 
research projects involving a number of companies, including GSK, Royal 
Mail, BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and EDS. He is most well known for his 
work on binary neural networks and the AURA technology. His research 
is primarily motivated by neurobiology. His primary research is in
 Neural Networks, but also he works on applications of Grid computing, 
Computer Vision and advanced computer architectures.

Recently he has set up a privately funded University spin out, Cybula Ltd., 
which is focussed at transferring the AURA technology from the University 
into industry. The company operates in conjunction with his group from the 
Science Park at the University of York. He is currently the CEO for the 
company.