Optimizing a prognostic-surveillance system to achieve a user-selectable functional objective

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for optimizing a prognostic-surveillance system to achieve a user-selectable functional objective, the method comprising:

• receiving a selection of a functional objective to be optimized, wherein the functional objective to be optimized is selected from a set of functional objectives configured for the prognostic-surveillance system, wherein the functional objective comprises a quality of information objective;
• and
• optimizing the selected functional objective, wherein the optimizing the selected functional objective comprises:
• performing Monte Carlo simulations using a synthetic data pump,
• wherein the synthetic data pump generates time-series signals that vary operational parameters for the prognostic-surveillance system in response to defects in a monitored asset,
• wherein the Monte Carlo simulations vary the operational parameters for the prognostic-surveillance system while the prognostic-surveillance system operates on synthesized signals;
• determining optimal values for the operational parameters that optimize the selected functional objective;
• and
• determining, based on the Monte Carlo simulations, a quality of sensors, and based on the quality of the sensors, adjusting a sampling rate.

A system that optimizes a prognostic-surveillance system to achieve a user-selectable functional objective, comprising:

• a computing system with one or more processors and one or more associated memories;
• and
• an optimization processor that executes on the computing system, wherein during operation, the optimization processor:
• receives a selection of a functional objective to be optimized, wherein the functional objective to be optimized is selected from a set of functional objectives configured for the prognostic-surveillance system, wherein the functional objective comprises a quality of information objective, and
• optimizes the selected functional objective, wherein the optimizing the selected functional objective comprises:
• performing Monte Carlo simulations using a synthetic data pump,
• wherein the synthetic data pump generates time-series signals that vary operational parameters for the prognostic-surveillance system in response to defects in a monitored asset,
• wherein the Monte Carlo simulations vary the operational parameters for the prognostic-surveillance system while the prognostic-surveillance system operates on synthesized signals;
• determining optimal values for the operational parameters that optimize the selected functional objective;
• and
• determining, based on the Monte Carlo simulations, a quality of sensors, and based on the quality of the sensors, adjusting a sampling rate.