Improving Model-Based Diagnosis through Algebraic Analysis: the Petri Net Challenge

The present paper describes the empirical evaluation of a linear algebra approach to model-based diagnosis, in case the behavioral model of the device under examination is described through a Petri net model. In particular, we show that algebraic analysis based on P-invariants of the net model, can significantly improve the performance of a model-based diagnostic system, while keeping the integrity of a general framework defined from a formal logical theory. A system called INVADS is described and experimental results, performed on a car fault domain and involving the comparison of different implementations of P-invariant based diagnosis, are then discussed.