TY - JOUR
T1 - Auto-learning process risk optimization considering uncertain degradation pathways
T2 - A bayesian-learning-informed termination approach
AU - Ma, Yuhan
AU - Wei, Fanping
AU - Qiu, Qingan
AU - Peng, Rui
AU - Yang, Li
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2026/2
Y1 - 2026/2
N2 - Safety-critical task systems operating under uncertain degradation pathways demand precise decision paradigm to balance operational continuity against catastrophic failure risks. This study addresses a risk control problem arising in mission-critical systems under degradation evolution uncertainties. To tackle potential failure risks stemming from process uncertainties, we develop a tractable risk control model that incorporates parameter learning into the adaptive termination decision process, constituting an auto-learning control-limit policy. The integrated optimization problem is representable as a finite-horizon MDP framework, which strives to mitigate the aggregate losses originating from (a) task termination and (b) operational anomalies. Theoretical analysis confirms the presence of termination thresholds along with its monotonic characteristic relative to inspection counts and degradation severities, revealing an age-state-dependent threshold structure that adapts to non-steady conditions. We further account for the implication of core degradation/cost parameters on risk alleviation, which facilitates efficient decision-making. Comparative evaluations demonstrate that the optimal policy outperforms alternative strategies over risk loss control.
AB - Safety-critical task systems operating under uncertain degradation pathways demand precise decision paradigm to balance operational continuity against catastrophic failure risks. This study addresses a risk control problem arising in mission-critical systems under degradation evolution uncertainties. To tackle potential failure risks stemming from process uncertainties, we develop a tractable risk control model that incorporates parameter learning into the adaptive termination decision process, constituting an auto-learning control-limit policy. The integrated optimization problem is representable as a finite-horizon MDP framework, which strives to mitigate the aggregate losses originating from (a) task termination and (b) operational anomalies. Theoretical analysis confirms the presence of termination thresholds along with its monotonic characteristic relative to inspection counts and degradation severities, revealing an age-state-dependent threshold structure that adapts to non-steady conditions. We further account for the implication of core degradation/cost parameters on risk alleviation, which facilitates efficient decision-making. Comparative evaluations demonstrate that the optimal policy outperforms alternative strategies over risk loss control.
KW - Degradation uncertainties
KW - Online bayesian learning, Dynamic termination optimization
KW - Process risk control
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105017686450
U2 - 10.1016/j.ress.2025.111766
DO - 10.1016/j.ress.2025.111766
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:105017686450
SN - 0951-8320
VL - 266
JO - Reliability Engineering and System Safety
JF - Reliability Engineering and System Safety
M1 - 111766
ER -