There are a large number of applications in which complex machinery is employed to accomplish a task. Whether it is automated machining on an automotive assembly line, drilling for oil in the ocean, or bottling soda pop, it is important to know the "state" of the machine.

An unexpected failure can result in lost revenues because of factory down-time, or catastrophic harm to equipment or personnel.

One desires to both monitor current operational state (diagnostics) and be able to predict state at some point in the near future (prognostics). Both diagnostics and prognostics rely on signals measured from the system being monitored.

Complete failures are very easy to detect -- "The stamping press is jammed and not moving." More subtle tell-tale signs of failure or impending failure are more difficult to monitor, and traditional methods may require extensive instrumentation mounted on the machine itself.

Sophisticated, cost-effective signal and image processing algorithms can detect changes in system state (bearing wear or impending failure, tool dullness, etc.) and predict failures long before they happen.

Quantum Signal has experience in designing and implementing complete signal/image processing based solutions to difficult prognostic/diagnostic problems.