The modern rationale for Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) comes from the transformation that a number of OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) have gone through; from selling a product in which future income is dependent on spare part revenue to selling a service in which steady monthly income can be derived in return for the effective maintenance of the asset.

This change in the business model of a manufacturer is called servitisation by some and referred to as a PSS (Product Service System) by others. IVHM is the underpinning capability, consisting of a number of technologies which enables this to happen in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Our expertise in IVHM includes:

• Architecture
• Commercial rationale: business case and business modelling
• Diagnostics and Prognostics
• Instrumentation and Signal Processing
• IVHM Design System
• Standards.

This expertise has been exercised in the following sectors:

• Aerospace
• Automotive
• Agriculture
• Energy
• Human Health
• Rail.

We have worked with a number of companies from across the world including Alstom, BAE Systems, Boeing, Meggitt, MoD, Rolls-Royce, Thales and Western Power Distribution.

Research partners include Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE, University of Maryland), National Aeronautics Lab (India), NRCC (National Research Council of Canada) and PHM Technology (Australia).

ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ our research

Our greatest strength is the ability to combine the academic rigour and long-term perspective of a university with the commercial and business focus of industry.

Our excellence in strategic and applied research has enabled us to make significant contributions to the world around us for over 60 years. We address real life challenges and focus on research that is of strategic and practical importance.

We provide a supportive research community for students and our academic work is regularly published in journal article, book or thesis form.

Our facilities

We have several facilities available including:

• Environmental Chamber
• Energy harvesting test equipment
• Fibre-optic strain gauging (SME demo)
• Helicopter rotor balance rig
• Machine Fault Simulator, for rotating machinery faults
• Offset gear rig
• UAV fuel rig with five degradation faults.

Working with us

We work with industry to help solve complex issues either through collaborative research projects or through direct consultation.

All research/consultancy work undertaken is subject to Non-Disclosure Agreements in order to protect intellectual property (IP) of the company involved.

We have expertise in these areas:
• Architecture
• Commercial rationale: business case and business modelling
• Diagnostics and prognostics
• Instrumentation and signal processing
• IVHM design system
• Standards.

We can work either directly with industry or through joint funding applications where appropriate.

We currently provide an IVHM short course each year in March and a number of MSc modules that are delivered through ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ MSc courses.