Fixit: An Architecture to Support Recognition-Primed Decision Making in Complex System Fault Management Activities

Abstract

This research explores the use of the theory of recognition primed decision making and the technology of case-based reasoning to store fault management experience and make it available to operators confronting similar anomalous situations. Specifically, this project uses case-based reasoning technology to construct a knowledge base of actual fault management experience. This knowledge base is organized so as to enable operators to rapidly recognize a fault and retrieve information about previous or similar fault occurrences. The Fault Information Extraction and Investigation Tool (FIXIT), a case-based architecture for computationally encoding fault management experience, is described. FIXIT was implemented in proof-of-concept form for satellite ground controllers. An empirical study with NASA controllers showed that fault management using FIXIT was consistently superior to fault detection and response using existing fault management resources of NASA satellite ground control centers.