Smart BIT: a plan for intelligent built-in test

A major factor influencing the readiness of today's highly electronics-driven weapons systems is the amount of time spent maintaining them. The attainment of a better understanding of the causes for intermittent and other ill-defined failure modes and development of a greater appreciation for the effect of both external and internal environmental factors on the fault behavior of electronic systems will help to improve the BIT (built-in test) performance. Smart BIT is the name applied to a program of research and development sponsored by Rome Air Development Center (RADC) to investigate, develop, and apply artificial-intelligence (AI) techniques to effect BIT improvement. An overview of that program, its contents and purposes is provided. Deficiencies in current BIT implementations and potential benefits of the Smart BIT program are presented. Components of this approach are discussed and supporting technology areas highlighted. The current plan for implementing this approach is given along with a scenario describing its potential form     

Evaluation of built-in test

Built-in test (BIT) provides fault finding as a means to aid in system assembly, test, and maintenance. An investigation to evaluate BIT of a particular electronics board used in the in-flight entertainment system for Boeing 777s is described. We found BIT proved useful when failure occurrences were uniquely associated with the operating environment, situations which can result in no-fault found, or could-not duplicate (CND) failures upon test. We also observed cases where the BIT failed to observe failures, and in some cases pointed to the wrong cause of failure. These and other advantages and disadvantages of BIT implementation are discussed     

面向FADEC系统BIT验证的综合故障注入器研究

为了评价航空发动机数字电子控制器机内自测试检测能力,提出了一种面向全权限数字电子控制(FADEC)系统机内自测试(BIT)验证的综合故障注入器的设计思想。综合故障注入器采用ARM处理器作为核心控制器;基于数模混合电路,分别通过后驱动技术和电压求和技术实现对数字电路节点和模拟电路节点的故障注入;针对各种传感器和执行机构的电气特征,设计了具有良好逼真度的接口模拟电路,从而与电子控制器(EEC)构成FADEC系统运行环境。通过对具有BIT功能的电子控制器原理样机的故障注入实验,证明该综合故障注入器作为航空发动机FADEC系统BIT设计和应用研究的工具是非常有效的。      

Role of BIT in support system maintenance and availability

The role of built in test (BIT) in electronic systems has grown in prominence with the advances in system complexity and concern over maintenance lifecycle costs of large systems. In an environment where standards drive system designs (and provide an avenue for focused advancement in technology), standards for BIT are very much in an evolutionary state. The reasons for advancing the effectiveness of BIT include reduced support overhead, greater, confidence in operation, and increased system availability. The cost of supporting military electronic systems (avionics, communications, and weapons systems) has driven much of the development in BIT technology. But what about the systems that support these end items that contain test and measurement instrumentation - such as automatic test equipment (ATE), simulators and avionics development suites? There has also been a beneficial effect on the maintenance and availability of these systems due to the infusion of BIT into their component assemblies. But the effect has been much more sporadic and fragmented. This paper looks at the state of BIT in test and measurement instruments, explain its affect on system readiness, and present ideas on how to improve BIT technologies and standards. This will not provide definitive answers to BIT development questions, since the factors that affect it are specific to the instrument itself. The topics covered in this paper are: definitions of built-in test, instrument BIT history, importance of BIT fault coverage and isolation in support systems, overview of BIT development process issues that limit the effectiveness of BIT Standards related to instrument BIT, making BIT more effective in support system maintenance and availability and conclusions.     

Flyable fiber-optic radar target generator

Airborne radar relies on Built-in-Test (BIT) for fault detection, fault isolation and system calibration. The capability of BIT is often limited by space, weight, size and cost considerations. Furthermore, the radar does not have a test target that will allow BIT to perform in flight, closed-loop functional test of the complete radar system. This paper describes a fiber-optic based radar test target unit that provides a delayed replica of the transmitted radar signal. The unit will intercept a small amount of radar-transmitted energy, delay it in the fiber, then feed it back into the radar producing a calibrated “echo” at a predetermined radar range. The unit can be installed as part of the airborne radar. The details on the design and testing of a proof-of-concept unit are also given     

Test results judgment method based on BIT faults

Built-in-test(BIT) is responsible for equipment fault detection, so the test data correctness directly influences diagnosis results. Equipment suffers all kinds of environment stresses, such as temperature, vibration, and electromagnetic stress. As embedded testing facility, BIT also suffers from these stresses and the interferences/faults are caused, so that the test course is influenced,resulting in incredible results. Therefore it is necessary to monitor test data and judge test failures.Stress monitor and BIT self-diagnosis would redound to BIT reliability, but the existing antijamming researches are mainly safeguard design and signal process. This paper focuses on test results monitor and BIT equipment(BITE) failure judge, and a series of improved approaches is proposed. Firstly the stress influences on components are illustrated and the effects on the diagnosis results are summarized. Secondly a composite BIT program is proposed with information integration, and a stress monitor program is given. Thirdly, based on the detailed analysis of system faults and forms of BIT results, the test sequence control method is proposed. It assists BITE failure judge and reduces error probability. Finally the validation cases prove that these approaches enhance credibility.     

机内测试定量要求的现场试验验证方法研究

阐述了机内测试(BIT)定量要求现场试验验证方法的内涵和实施流程。根据置信度水平和功能单元覆盖要求计算BIT故障检测率、故障隔离率和虚警率综合验证的样本量,根据BIT参数的单侧置信限进行合格判断。给出了数据统计判据、分类流程和统一记录表格。通过案例应用说明了该方法的可行性。     

基于ATE与BIT组合的NAMP自动测试与故障诊断系统设计

在对机械电气系统状态监控处理机(NAMP)功能、组成、BIT和ATE测试接口等进行测试需求分析基础上,基于ATE系统平台完成了NAMP的自动测试原理和测试流程设计,采用BIT和ATE组合测试技术完成了NAMP的自动测试,采用故障树法完成了NAMP的故障诊断功能。经故障注入实验和使用验证表明,该系统具有测试内容全面,故障定位准确,故障隔离率高等特点。     

Using built-in-test to reduce TPS run times and improve TPSreliability

This paper addresses using information derived from Built-in-Test (BIT) to fault diagnose Units Under Test (UUTs), wherever possible. This philosophic approach to diagnostic testing is not new. It has been studied over the past 20 years under the visor of “Integrated Diagnostics”, but it has yet to be truly implemented in a “real life” military diagnostic test environment. The mindset of Test Program Set design engineering, along with customer and contractor management alike, remains “complete diagnostic testing based upon single catastrophic component failure modes”. If we are to generate cost efficient Test Program Sets (TPSs) under reduced military budget constraints, this will have to change! The test engineer must be encouraged to use methodologies to speed up development time and decrease TPS run times. Using present technology, this is possible now, and as the technology matures, will become a truly viable approach in the future. For the purpose of this paper, the author relies heavily on his extensive US Navy Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) and Test Program Set (TPS) experience, as well as on previous studies performed on using BIT to fault diagnose Unit Under Test failures on US Naval Air weapon systems     

Improving Avionics Fiber Optic Network Reliability & Maintainability

Work is ongoing at NAVAIR to understand how avionics fiber optic BIT technology can help reduce military aviation platform fiber optic network life cycle and total ownership cost. Operational availability enhancements via comprehensive supportability programs combined with keen attentiveness to reliability and maintainability metrics are driving the avionics fiber optic BIT value proposition. Avionics fiber optic BIT technology is expected to reduce failure rate and mean time to repair by predicting link failure before link failure actually occurs, running post-maintenance stress screening upon aircraft start-up, improving fault isolation by reducing the troubleshooting ambiguity zone from three to one, and reducing the need for separate support equipment for system troubleshooting     

BIT技术在导航系统中的应用优势

介绍了BIT技术的定义、分类和关键技术,阐述了导航系统故障检测的特点,探讨了BIT技术在导航系统应用,能够增强导航系统内部各子系统故障诊断能力,信息融合能力,并为冗余设计和系统重构提供基础等方面的优势.     

基于时间应力分析的机内测试系统综合降虚警技术

 虚警率高是困扰机内测试（BIT）系统得到广泛应用的主要原因。针对该问题,从机电系统所承受时间应力的角度构建了机内测试系统综合降低虚警技术的总体模型。首先采用双支持向量机（SVM）的方法将实时应力信息与机内测试诊断结果相互关联。在此基础上,提出了基于核主元模糊聚类的虚警识别方法将机电系统多源信息进行综合分析,并通过优化决策实现多级降低机内测试系统虚警的目的。最后,针对某型直升机航空地平仪的机内测试系统进行了试验验证与分析。     

BIT和ATE组合测试技术及其应用

详细介绍了BIT和ATE组合测试技术及其在机载电子设备测试与故障诊断的具体应用。应用表明BIT和ATE组合测试技术可有效提高设备的测试性。     

Kinematic modeling and control of a novel pneumatic soft robotic arm

A novel soft robotic arm(SRA) composed of two soft extensible arms(SEAs) and a soft bendable joint(SBJ) for space capture systems is presented in this paper. A diamond origami pattern was applied in the design of the SEAs, and large deformations of the SEAs in positive pressure were simulated using the nonlinear finite element method. A kinematic model of the SRA using the Denavit–Hartenberg method based on the assumption of constant curvatures was proposed. A closed-loop model-free control syst...     

BIT综合表示模型研究

 在分析机内测试(BIT)主要设计要素组成的基础上,提出了BIT综合表示模型。建立了BIT综合表示模型的数学定义,包括BIT单元模型、BIT层次关系集合、BIT数据传送方式集合、BIT执行次序集合和BIT综合表示模型。在数学定义的基础上,进一步建立了BIT综合表示的框图模型和表格模型,这两种模型可以直接用于工程分析。最后,以某辅助导航系统为案例,进行了BIT综合表示模型的应用,给出了框图模型结果和表格模型结果,验证了该模型的可用性和有效性。     

一种基于FPGA的航空发动机独立超转保护系统

针对航空发动机超转故障,提出一种基于现场可编程逻辑门阵列(FPGA)的独立超转保护系统.介绍了系统的总体设计方案、超转判断方法及故障诊断方式.该系统采用双双余度结构,通过线性分类器和时间窗内加权表决判断方法,提高超转保护功能可靠性.通过3层级机内自测试(BIT)监视静默失效,满足适航要求.硬件在回路仿真平台试验结果表明:该系统超转判断准确可靠,并能在连续判断超转后进入锁定保护状态,有效避免超转事故的发生.目前,研究成果已应用于某型发动机全权限数字控制(FADEC)系统中.      

Designing to MIL-STD-2165: Testability

The V-22 avionic hardware is the first to be designed under MIL-STD-2165 testability program requirements. This paper presents an overview of the avionics design-for-testability approach and lessons learned to date relative to the application of MIL-STD-2165. The paper will discuss incorporation of testability requirements up front in the avionics design which will drive the supportability philosophy at both the Organizational and Depot levels of maintenance. The paper will compare previous avionics hardware testability requirements versus those applied to the V-22 avionics and highlight areas of improvement. A discussion of testability design impacts on reduced level of testing (i.e. WRA/SRA/System) will be included. In addition, the paper discusses an innovative approach to meeting the user requirements for a man-portable forward deployed maintenance capability that forms the basis for a two level support scenario (Organizational and Depot). The innovation comes from the fact that the on-board Central Integrated Checkout system will provide data as well as fault isolation and will use this data as a mechanism to reduce the size and complexity of the stimulus and measurement hardware at either the Organizational or Depot level depending on the deployment requirements.     

机内测试虚警分析和控制

现代飞行器广泛采用机内测试(Built-intest,BIT)技术,以便对其内部故障进行自动检测、诊断和隔离,但是常规BIT面临诊断能力不足和诊断模糊性等问题,导致BIT虚警率高,难以有效发挥其应有的作用.本文论述了BIT虚警的基本理论、虚警的危害及现状,并从BIT虚警产生的原因分析入手,提出了解决虚警问题的一些方法和措施.     

飞行控制计算机模拟接口BIT电路设计及仿真

随着航空电子设备维修性要求的提高以及设备本身要求具备检测隔离故障的能力以缩短维修时间,机内测试(BIT)在测试领域研究中将越来越重要。功能电路BIT系统是航空电子设备整机BIT系统的重要组成部分,因此从解决实际问题出发,针对飞行控制计算机中的模拟输入和输出接口电路,提出了几种BIT的设计方法,并使用Multisim软件对所设计的BIT监测电路进行仿真,仿真结果表明,所设计的BIT电路是可靠及有效的。     

多电飞机电气系统关键技术研究

介绍了多电飞机电气系统关键技术的研究现状和发展趋势,阐述了电源系统结构,PSP和ELMC的结构与功能,电源系统BIT技术与容错技术以及电力作动技术等关键技术,并探讨了上述关键技术的设计方案。