ABSTRACT,

Car fault detection is a complicated process and requires high level of expertise. Any attempt of developing an expert system dealing with car fault detection has to overcome various difficulties. This project describes a proposed knowledge-based system for car fault detection. The project explains the need for an expert system and the some issues on developing knowledge-based systems, the car fault detection process and the difficulties involved in developing the system. The system structure and its components and their functions are described. The system has some rules for different types of faults and causes. It can detect many types of faults. The system has been tested and gave promising results. The programming language employed in this work was visual Basic 6.0.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    Background of the Study

Expert systems (ES) are a branch of artificial intelligence (AI), and were developed by the AI community in the mid-1960s. An expert system can be defined as “an intelligent computer program that uses knowledge and inference procedures to solve problems that are difficult enough to require significant human expertise for their solutions”. We can infer from this definition that expertise can be transferred from a human to a computer and then stored in the computer in a suitable form that users can call upon the computer for specific advice as needed. Then the system can make inferences and arrive at a specific conclusion to give advices and explains, if necessary, the logic behind the advice. ES provide powerful and flexible means for obtaining solutions to a variety of problems that often cannot be dealt with by other, more traditional and orthodox methods. The terms expert system and knowledge-based system (KBS) are often used synonymously.

The four main components of KBS are: a knowledge base, an inference engine, a knowledge engineering tool, and a specific user interface. Some of KBS important applications include the following: medical treatment, engineering failure analysis, decision support, knowledge representation, climate forecasting, decision making and learning, and chemical process controlling. Previous work has shown that systems concerned with car fault detection were very limited. Jeff Pepper (1990) has described a proposed expert system for car fault diagnosis called SBDS, the Service Bay Diagnostic System. SBDS is being developed by a joint project team at Ford Motor Company, the Carnegie Group, and Hewlett Packard. SBDS’s knowledge base will contain the expertise of Ford’s top diagnosticians, and it will make their diagnostic skills available to mechanics in every Ford dealership in North America.

This system will guide a human technician through the entire service process, from the initial customer interview at the service desk to the diagnosis and repair of the car in the garage.

There are a lot of related expert systems in the literature concerned with diagnostic problems. Daoliang et al. presents a web-based expert system for fish disease diagnosis. The system is now is use by fish farmers in the North China region. Yu Qian et al. proposed an expert system for real-time failure diagnosis of complex chemical processes.

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1.2    Statement of the Problem

The proposed system divides car failures into three major types:

1. Start-up state, problems that may occur when a person try to start up the car, for example; engine does not work, some sounds noticed, engine works ones and stops. These problems could be due to one or more failures; will happen, the battery needs to be recharged, the dynamo is dead, or the battery is dead.
2. Run-stable state, problems that may occur after starting the car, for example; unburned fuel, cycle on-off, blue gas emitted.
3. Movement-state, problems that may occur while the car is moving; this state also includes problems related to the brake system. Most of movement problems that might occur appears on the car’s tableau the proposed system takes advantage of these facilities and use them to diagnose the problem and to gives advice of the solution to the driver. Some of these problems are: oil pressure, water temperature, voltage, and fuel pointer.

1.3       Objectives of the Project

The main objective of the research is to develop Car Failure and Malfunction Diagnosis Assistance System. The aim of the proposed system is to provide quick and precise expert guidance to car fault diagnosis. Additionally, for training purposes, it helps in reducing the knowledge gap between different individuals in car fault diagnosis. The specific objectives of the research are as follows:

• To investigate the related works on car fault and malfunction diagnosis and Expert System (ES) domains.
• To design appropriate representation architecture to the proposed Car Failure and Malfunction Diagnosis Assistance System.
• To develop an ES that supports the implementation of the proposed system’s functionality.
• To test and validate the system’s performance.

1.4       Scope of the Project

The scope of the project covers the following:

• Repairs of  Minor Faults in cars
• Detecting the Cause of the problem
• Suggest how to repair the car

1.5    Justification of the Project

Expert system is extensive computer programs capable of simulating the decisive activity of the experts in solving very complicated task which are rather strictly problem oriented.

Generally, the proposed system can help inexperienced mechanic or driver in diagnosing the fault of the car. In addition, the system has the following benefit:

1.       Prevent the loss of customer and income. If mechanic’s repair shop                   makes a wrong diagnosis, the customer will be reluctant to come        back to the repair shop. With this system, the situation can be avoided.

2.       As a tool for training inexperienced mechanic.

3.       Improve productivity. Having this system may allow mechanic to do       more work in less time.

4.       Help improving knowledge driver in diagnosing the fault of car.

5.       Reduce the need for skilled mechanic. The repair of car requires a   high level of expertise. With this system, inexperienced mechanic can        be guided to find the fault.

6.       Be able to work without stopping. As a human, expert mechanic will       be tired if he works continuously.

1.6      Limitations

This project covers all aspect of expert system on car fault detection and correction. Due to time and financial constraint, the software developed was tested using few types of car fault.

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