Software Implementation of Expert Management System for Automobile Fault Detection and Diagnosis

PRELIMINARY PAGES

• Title page
• Approval page
• Dedication
• Acknowledgement
• Table of Contents
• Abstract

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• 1.1 Background …
• …

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

• 2.1 Introduction
• …

CHAPTER THREE

SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN

• 3.1 Methodology Adopted
• 3.1.1 Problem Identification Using SSADM
• 3.2 Analysis of the Existing System
• 3.2.1 Dataflow of the Existing System
• 3.2.2 Disadvantages Of The Existing System
• 3.2.3 Weakness of the existing System
• 3.3 Feasibility Study
• 3.3.1 Economic Feasibility
• 3.3.2 Technical Feasibility
• 3.3.3 Operational Feasibility
• 3.4 Analysis of the Proposed System
• 3.4.1 Data Flow Diagram of the Proposed System
• 3.4.2 Advantages of the Proposed System
• 3.4.3 Justification of the Proposed System
• 3.5 Functional Requirements
• 3.5.1 Use Case Diagram Of The Admin / User Privileges
• 3.6 Data Requirements
• 3.7 High Level Model of the Proposed System

CHAPTER FOUR

SYSTEM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

• 4.1 Objectives of the Design
• 4.2 Cohesion and Decomposition High level Model
• 4.3 Control Center / Overall Dataflow Diagram
• 4.3.1 Proposed System Operation Flowchart
• 4.4 System Specification and Design
• 4.4.1 Input and Output Specification
• 4.4.2 Database Specification and Design
• 4.4.3 Data Dictionary
• 4.5 Choice and Justification of Programming Language
• 4.6 Program Documentation
• 4.7 Implementation Techniques
• 4.8 Programming Module Specification
• 4.8.1 Installation
• 4.9 Computer Hardware Minimum Requirement
• 4.10 Software Requirement
• 4.11 Personnel / User Training
• 4.12 File Maintenance Module

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

• 5.1 Introduction
• 5.2 Summary
• 5.3 Conclusion
• 5.4 Recommendation

References

Appendix A - Source Code

Appendix B - Object Program

1.0 Introduction

In present time most households own at least one car. This figure shows that a car is very important to people’s lives as it completes the cycle of living.

This computer expert system is hoped to help those who are in need of guides to deal with their cars problems. Although it might not give a complete guide and help as a human expert, namely mechanics, at least the expert system can give temporary assistance to those who are in need of instant help, as a result of the limitation of time and distance.

1.1 Background Of The Study

With the help of a car, movement from one place to another has been made easy especially for those who are always mobile in their jobs. Cars simplify our lives and make time to be more valuable as we can save more time using the car. But at the same time, people who own cars definitely don’t want to have a problem with their cars as the troubleshooting of a car can be a nightmare to them, especially women. Some of those own a car individually don’t know how to deal with their cars whenever it has a problem. All they know is to start the engine, drag the clutch if it is not automatic, press the paddy and break when they need to. An even the worse situation is that they don’t even know how to fill the fuel tank, and that is not good. They won’t know what to do when something happens to their cars. All they can do at best is, call the mechanic for help.

So, this computer expert system is hoped to help those who are in need of guides to deal with their cars problems. Although it might not give a complete guide and help as a human expert, namely mechanics, at least the expert system can give temporary assistance to those who are in need of instant help, as a result of the limitation of time and distance.

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

In dealing with problems of a car and troubleshooting, mechanics are those who can help to solve them. The use of a computer expert system is beneficial in different ways. It gives a temporary and instant guide to car owners in different situations like:

1. When mechanic support is unavailable
2. When we are in a hurry
3. When distance to mechanics location is far
4. When mechanics diagnosis wrongly, etc.

1.3 Objectives Of The Study

To develop an expert system on car maintenance and troubleshooting that is capable of assisting car owners in dealing with their cars problems and troubleshooting them whenever time is limited and the human experts, also known as mechanics is not available at that very time.The development of the system surely has some significance to humans especially those who own a car and to the system developer as well. Among others, the system will perform the following functions:

1. It will conclude its diagnosis based on answers of the users to specific question posed by the system to the user.
2. It provides facility in order to take the user opinion on the following: does the use agree with the system’s diagnosis? Does the user disagree with the system’s diagnosis?
3. It provides explanation, picture, why and fact facility.
4. It stores the facts and the conclusion of the inference of the system and the facts and the conclusion of the inference of the user, for each case in data base.
5. It processes the data base in order to extract rules, which complete the knowledge base.

1.4 Significance Of The Study

The proposed system can help inexperienced mechanics or drivers in diagnosing the fault of the car.

In addition, the system has the following benefits:

1. Expert systems help in the improvement of productivity: Having this system will enable mechanics to do more work in less time.
2. Expert system reduces the need for skilled mechanics: The repairs of a car require a high level of expertise. With this system, inexperienced mechanics can be guided to find the fault.
3. Expert systems capture the knowledge of company experts who someday will retire, resign or die.
4. Expert systems train newly lived employees to solve problem the way experienced professionals do.
5. Expert system are not vulnerable to problems such as fatigue, emotion and overwork, all of which plaque human experts.
6. Expert systems place expert knowledge into machine readable form, where it can be summoned at any time.
7. Expert systems give consistent result.
8. Expert systems can complete some tasks quicker them a human.

1.5 Scope Of The Study

The expert system may contain certain limits and flaws, as it is only a prototype. We commonly know that a car has many parts on its body and even in the body itself. However, the system will only deal with problems that are normally or commonly found in the engine part of the car as the system is just a prototype, which means the function will be expanded through time. The system will also deal with only cars produced from the year 2000 till date.

1.6 Limitation Of The Study

1. TIME: Time frame for this work is short
2. Finance as a student
3. Limited literature in computer to assist the researcher
4. Not much work has been done in this area of computer science/ engineering.

1.8 Definition Of Terms

Actuator:

This is a device in a car that uses electricity to do sort of automated mechanical movement such as power door locks or a remote trunk opener.

Car Sensor:

This is a technological device that dictates or senses a signal or a physical condition in a car.

Car Diagnosis:

Is the identification of the nature and causes of problem in a car.

Car Brain Box:

This is an electronic device that incorporates micro processors for the monitoring and control of various functions in a vehicle.

Account Details - For USSD / POS Transfer

Account Name: Sparklyn Services Account No: 1222599051 Account Type: Current Bank Name: Zenith Bank PLC

Proposal Writing Format under Computer Science

Design and Implementation of Expert Management System for Automobile Fault Detection and Diagnosis is a proposal topic for final year research work, which comprises the major and elective project proposal writing sections for Design and Implementation of Expert Management System for Automobile Fault Detection and Diagnosis research work.

Major Sections

• Motivation for Embarking on the Project

• Brief Background of Study

• Statement of Problems

• Aim of the Study

• Specific Objectives of the Study

• Significance of the Study (Who benefits from the project and how?)

Elective Sections

• Methodology and Reason for Using It (such as; models, SSADM, or OOADM)

• Tools (programming languages and software used)