1.1 Background of Study
Automobiles need maintenance from time to time. Like human beings are required to keep hygiene, in a similar fashion motors additionally want to be stored clean. Automobiles have to run on soiled roads and in a polluted environment. They run on uneven roads with potholes and different obstructions, and are consequently subjected to masses which injury them. Therefore, there is a want for normal preservation and servicing of automobiles, which is typically carried out in auto workshops or auto provider stations. Every new car comes with a car protection manual. The proprietor of the automobile is anticipated to examine and use this manual, as it mentions car preservation pointers at some stage in driving. It has been observed that after getting an auto or vehicle, the proprietors do no longer care a good deal about a normal vehicle or automobile maintenance. Even if the proprietors often carrier their vehicle, the automobile protection recommendations given in the automobile preservation guide will increase the sturdiness or lifestyles of the automobile to a super extent. Vehicle protection and servicing is carried out when the car completes sure kilometers on its ordinary going for walks or when the car does no longer provide appropriate performance. It is counseled that the car proprietors raise out ordinary and periodical exams on their vehicle, some of which are referred to under (Bulgakov et. al., 2019). Most service companies offer new services and benefits to continuously maintain relationships with existing customers or create higher customer satisfaction according to the individualization of customer needs and differentiated service demand increase. Since service has intangible characteristics, broader customer contacts are made in the process of meeting customer expectations, and interactions with customers produce a positive impression or trust, which works as a key factor for relationship continuity. In the end, relationship benefits revealed through interactions between companies and customers play a pivotal role in retaining customers. The after-sales service, one of the methods for achieving customer satisfaction in auto maintenance and repair service, is most valuable, and efficient after-sales service becomes the highest priority of auto maintenance and repair service companies (Jain et. al., 2019).
Thanks to new digital technologies, it is possible to interconnect, in industrial processes, production machines with their software. This technological progress has severaladvantages, including accelerating processes related to digital data collection, optimizingproduction process times, producing higher quality goods at lower costs, and having all thenecessary information to implement strategic decisions to support the business (Redondo et. al., 2020).With the rapid advancement in technology, the auto-mechanic job has evolved from purely mechanical to include electronic technology. Because vehicles today possess complex computer and electronic systems, auto-mechanics need to have a broader base of knowledge than in the past. Due to the increasingly labyrinthine nature of the technology that is now incorporated into automobile, most automobile dealership and independent workshop now provide sophisticated diagnostic computers to each technician, without which they would be unable to diagnose or repair and maintain a vehicle (Ngure, 2013). In the modern era, the automobile has become increasing difficult to repair without basic technical and computer-based knowledge. The computer and electronic driven elements of the vehicles have changed the nature of the automobile mechanics. Expert system is ought to give a temporary assistance to those users who are in urgent need of an instant help.
This work aims to provide an alternative to the human expert method in automobile maintenance and repair for more effectiveness and convenience by modeling an expert system for automobile repair and maintenance through the use of an artificial intelligence programming. However, this application is limited to recognizing and diagnosing five broad groups or classes of car faults for repair and maintenance – engine induced faults, power transmission train faults, clutch-related faults, battery faults and brake induced faults.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
There are many problems concerned with the existing method of automobile maintenance and repair such as;
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of this research is the design and implementation of automobile diagnosis and repair system.
The specific objectives are:
1.4 Significance of the Study
The proposed system can help inexperienced mechanics or drivers in diagnosing the fault of the car.
In addition, the system has the following benefits:
1.5 Contributions to IT Practice
This project work “Design and Implementation of an expert management system for automobile fault detection” will certainly foster the use of computerized systems in car diagnosis and maintenance. It will produce a system that will be able to eradicate the problem of manual fault detection in cars. This expert system will also give room to further expansion through time making it possible to produce a more fastest and accurate means of diagnosing cars using computer technology.
Another impact is that it will help the ICT body of knowledge to know the best experts system for the detecting faults in cars and also determine common problems usually found in cars. This will help in improvement of cars by manufactures.
1.6 Scope of the Study
This study aims to provide an alternative to the human expert method in automobile maintenance and repair at Innoson Nig Plc. It can only serve the automobile engineers in fault detection.
1.7 Assumptions
Assumption is any project factor that is considered to be true, real, or certain without empirical proof or demonstration. Realistically speaking, it is impossible to plan a project without making a few assumptions (Boogaard, 2020).
The following assumptions were made in the course of this study
1.8 Limitations
1.9 Delimitations
Delimitations are those characteristics that limit the scope and define the boundaries of your study (Simon, 2011).
The delimitation of my study is;
1.10 Definition of Terms
Actuator: This is a device in a car that uses electricity to do sort of automated mechanical movement such as power door locks or a remote trunk opener (Andreas, 2013).
Computer Programming: is the process of designing and building an executable computer program to accomplish a specific computing result (Bebbington, 2014).
Car Sensor: intelligent systems that control different aspects such as temperature, coolant levels, oil pressure, emission levels and so much more (Dan, 2018).
Expert System: Is a computer system that emulates the decision-making ability of a human expert (Jackson, 2008).
Information Technology: is the use of computers to store, retrieve, transmit, and manipulate data or information (Daintith, 2009).