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A rapid increase in electronic control systems and data networks use has occurred in the heavy duty vehicle industry. This new technology permits new vehicle features and functions, some of which are the direct intent and result of introducing the technology and some of which are achievable by synergy. The synergy occurs when a significant percentage of the vehicle functions are controlled electronically and are able to communicate with each other through a data network. The industry is not yet prepared to exploit this synergistic potential. New approaches to vehicle design and integration are required to maximize the benefits that are achievable. Countering the increased functionality, reliability, and cost effectiveness of electronics has come new demands on the maintenance system due to the new technologies and functions being introduced.

The increased demands imposed upon maintenance personnel by ever increasing vehicle complexity has markedly stressed the ability of these individuals to perform vehicle diagnostics in a timely fashion. As a response to this growing problem the vehicle industry and its supporting communities have developed sophisticated automated test equipment to support the maintenance function. The availability of test equipment capable of conveniently performing complete vehicle tests has led to a natural extension of vehicle diagnosis, in the form of vehicle prognosis. Vehicle prognosis directly addresses the issue of timely vehicle maintenance by identifying potential failures in advance of or during their occurance. The prognostic approach selected for a system is necessarily dependent on the types of failures occuring within the system.