System and method for predicting impending failures in a locomotive

A system for predicting impending failures in a locomotive having a plurality of subsystems comprising:

• an storage unit having a first subsection for storing log data indicative of respective incidents that may occur as each of the subsystems is operative;
• a trend detector coupled to receive the log data from the storage unit to detect predetermined trend patterns in the received log data;
• a matching module coupled to receive a detected trend pattern and including a mapping module configured to map each detected trend pattern into a respective prediction of an impending failure of a respective one of the subsystems of the locomotive;
• and
• means for informing a user indicating the predicted failure so as to allow the user to take corrective action before the impending failure actually occurs.

Apparatus for predicting impending failures in a system including a plurality of subsystems, the apparatus comprising:

• communication means for supplying log data indicative of respective incidents or events that may occur as each of the subsystems is operative;
• a trend detector coupled to receive the supplied log data to detect predetermined trend patterns in the received log data;
• a matching module coupled to receive a detected trend pattern and including a mapping module configured to map each detected trend pattern into a respective prediction of an impending failure of a respective one of the subsystems;
• and
• an output unit configured to inform a respective user about the predicted failure so as to allow the user to take corrective action before the impending failure actually occurs.