Optimizing prior distribution parameters for probabilistic prediction of remaining useful life using deep learning

In this study, a deep learning-based probabilistic remaining useful life (RUL) prediction model is proposed to improve the strong prior limitations of traditional probabilistic RUL prediction methods through a flexible prior distribution and strategy for sequential optimization of hyperparameters with regularization factor. It enables output richer probabilistic lifetime density distributions and confidence intervals with various parameters and overcome the problem of poor accuracy of short RUL predictions to some extent. Eventually, the model is effectively validated on a benchmark dataset, and the experimental results show that the probabilistic lifetime prediction model with optimized prior distribution parameters significantly improves prediction performance and demonstrates good learning performance and robustness of test results compared with traditional point estimation methods and parameter-free models. This study informs maintenance decisions and reliability assessments in engineering systems and guides the research and application of probabilistic-based prediction methods in deep learning framework.