The Diagnostic Competitions

This article describes a common diagnostic framework used to evaluate these algorithms. These competitions, started in 2009, have significantly helped shape subsequent diagnostic algorithms. Diagnostic algorithms (DAs) (1) detect malfunctioning systems, (2) isolate the faulty component or components that cause the malfunction, and possibly (3) repair the system to restore its functionality. The fundamental challenge of diagnosis is that the system is only partially observable. Therefore, diagnostic algorithms must reason backwards from symptoms to causes.