Advanced automation/Self-maintenance and repair

Most machines today are designed to be looked after and serviced by people, and it would need artificial intelligence beyond our current capabilities to maintain current machinery autonomously. But it is perfectly feasible to design them to contain sensors able to diagnose faults on all components and sub-assemblies, using wired or wireless communication. Parts would also have to be designed with autonomous replacement and repair in mind, with magnetic, RFID or optic cues that can be read by a repair robot.

Most parameters can be sensed with solid-state sensors, manufactured on tiny silicon chips. They cost very little and can be hidden away effectively. If the signature from multiple sensors relating to each component task of a machine is known when operating optimally, the source of any problem can be pin-pointed with reasonable accuracy. These parts, or perhaps whole sub-assemblies can then be replaced.