Mobile diagnosis [of vehicle mechatronic systems]

Abstract

The increasing utilization of mechatronic systems in vehicles requires the integration of diagnosis functions which will be widely implemented as onboard software in the vehicle. These diagnosis functionalities will be based in the future on functional and mathematical models and will enable the depth of diagnosis to be improved. The ascertained data from the diagnosis functions describe the overall condition of the vehicle and are stored in nonvolatile memories. The development of mobile telephones capable of handling data and the increased availability of wireless networks build up the second basis of mobile diagnosis. Using a suitable IT infrastructure, data can be obtained from the vehicle by every PC. In addition to the data channel, which allows precise vehicle identification and describes the condition of the vehicle, customer complaints can be dealt with over the voice channel and serve as a fundamental source of information. Vehicle data as well as the information from the driver are compared with previously occurred faults in other vehicles. Case based reasoning (CBR) systems applications are identified. The result is a precise ascertainment of the fault cause, from which the defective vehicle components can be determined. Thus, service vehicles can carry with them correct replacement parts which can be inserted directly at the customers location in order to remove the fault. Mobile diagnosis allows an optimized diagnosis and repair process particularly if vehicles breakdown far away from a workshop.