Sensor failure detection and isolation in flexible structures using system realization redundancy

Sensor failure detection and isolation for flexible structures is approached from a system realization perspective. Instead of using hardware or analytical model redundancy, system realization is utilized to provide an experimental based model redundancy. The failure detection and isolation algorithm utilizes the eigensystem realization algorithm to determine a minimum-order state-space realization of the structure in the presence of noisy measurements. The failure detection and isolation algorithm utilizes statistical comparisons of successive realizations to detect and isolate the failed sensor component. Because of the nature in which the failure detection and isolation algorithm is formulated, it is also possible to classify the failure mode of the sensor. Results are presented using both numerically simulated and actual experimental data.