Shared technologies: a new roadmap

The long-term goal of the USAF Shared Technologies Program is to facilitate the development of a roadmap for technology insertion on the wide variety of legacy Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) accumulated by the USAF over the past 30 years. A successful roadmap will provide for Operation & Support (O&S) cost reduction, preserve Test Program Set (TPS) development investments, and evolve in concert with the DoD Executive Agent for Automatic Test Systems (ATS) initiatives and commercial industry, and (e.g., NxTest) changes. The near-term objective of this phase of the USAF Shared Technologies Program is to demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating available commercial technology into the Radio Frequency (RF) Mobile Electronic Test Set (RFMETS). The RFMETS was originally delivered to the USAF during the early 1990s and is used to support a variety of C-130 avionics including the APQ-170 and APQ-180 Radar Systems.     

自动测试系统的发展现状及前景

LXI(LAN extension for Instrument)是一种适用于自动测试系统的新一代基于LAN的模块化平台标准。自动测试系统的发展经历了3个阶段:专业型、积木型、集成型;LX I仪器总线标准为我国自动测试领域的发展带来了机遇和挑战,为自动测试系统的发展指明了新的方向。     

Commercial ATS program management

With the defense industry's ever-increasing reliance on Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Automatic Test Systems (ATS) and commercial suppliers, there is a need to recognize and actively manage the gap between the expectations of the defense industry and the commercial community. The key to a successful program has proven to be investing time during the proposal stage and at contract award to clearly define the COTS deliverables and the level of detail of required data. This requires discipline from the supplier (engineering, sales, and the proposal team) as well as the procuring agency to agree that the time investment is worthwhile. This paper examines the problem and outlines proven strategies in managing this gap.     

Advances in DoD's ATS Framework

The Automatic Test System (ATS) Executive Directorate (ED) is charged with developing objectives for the Department of Defense (DoD) ATS modernization. The DoD ATS Framework Working Group (FWG) was established by the ATS ED to create a Framework addressing these objectives. The FWG consists of two sub-groups: Management, that includes members from all of the DoD Services, and Technical. The Framework is made up of key elements and associated specifications and standards that form the open system architecture approach for DoD ATSs. In addition to creating and updating key element definitions, the FWG focuses on identifying commercial ATS related specifications that might satisfy the elements in the Framework. The standards specified in the DoD ATS Framework are documented in the DoD's Information Technology Standards Repository (DISR) and thereby become a mandatory requirement for all DoD ATS acquisitions. The Framework is also being specifically called out in DoD ATS requirements documents so that its standards are incorporated in future DoD ATS acquisitions, such as the Navy's eCASS.     

自动测试系统适配器自动设计技术

 针对当前自动测试系统（ATS）适配器设计中存在的“自动化程度较低、缺乏通用性”的不足,开发了ATS通用适配器自动设计技术。建立了一整套通用适配器自动设计流程,在依次完成通用端口设计、UUT测点资源匹配、适配器开关网络设计、相关工程设计后即可实现自动设计一个通用适配器的目的。以某机载通讯设备自动测试系统为例,采用该技术可缩短ATS适配器开发周期至原来的1/3,降低开发成本,提高设计的标准化、通用化程度,适配器需要量由5个减为1个。     

Identifying and managing risks for automatic test systems

Risk is the possibility of suffering loss. In a development project, the loss describes the impact to the project which could be in the form of diminished quality of the end-product, increased costs, delayed completion, or failure. This paper discusses the methods and techniques for identifying and managing the risks involved with Automatic Test Systems development     

ATS-6 Experiment Summary

The ATS-6 is the most advanced experimental satellite that has evolved from the Application Technology Satellite Program conducted and implemented by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA/GSFC). This project utilizes a state-of-the-art spacecraft and ground terminal network to perform advance studies and to conduct technological demonstrations in a large number of scientific areas. The design and implementation of this unique spacecraft permitted multiple experimentation simultaneously. The control of the spacecraft is performed at ATS Operational Control Center (ATSOCC) located at NASA/GSFC. Experimentation which was performed covered a wide spectrum of communications, technological, meterorological, and scientific subjects. Three principal ground terminals are utilized to assist the experimenters to acquire data. Data reduction and analysis are performed by the many facilities at NASA/GSFC in support of the experimenters.     

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     

航空发动机计算机辅助试验技术研究

本文在论述计算机辅助试验（ＣＡＴ）技术的基础上,结合航空发动机试车ＣＡＴ系统研究,探讨ＣＡＴ技术开发的系统工程方法,介绍数字滤波技术在试验中的应用,通过虚拟仪表技术实现多种信号采集、处理、显示功能。最后展望数据库系统支撑下在发动机试验技术领域中构造人机和谐信息环境的必要性及其发展趋势     

ATE paperless multimedia information and data collection system

An overview is given of the Productivity, Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (PRAM) Project 00-256, which aims to integrate the Digital Multimedia Information System (DMIS) into the Reconnaissance Module Automatic Test System (RMATS). Benefits to be derived from the incorporation of the DMIS and return on investment for the US Air Force are discussed. The process used to obtain approval and funding support for this advanced maintenance aiding and data collection system is described     

Conference report - 15t1h saint petersburg international conference on integrated navigation systems

The 15th Saint Petersburg International Conference on Integrated Navigation Systems was held by the Scientific Research Center of Russia - CSRI Elektropribor - co-sponsored by the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences on Motion Control and Navigation Problems, the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, the International Public Association - the Academy of Navigation and Motion Control, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (USA), L'Association AMronautique et Astronautique de France, L'institut Franqais de Navigation, and the German Institute of Navigation. Conference topics included: Integrated Systems, Satellite Systems, Inertial Systems, and Sensors.     

CASS: design for supportability

An Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) system that is supportable provides all of the operational requirements necessary to support fleet weapon systems, from installation, to operation and maintenance, to disposal. To be supportable, ATE must then minimize facility, personnel, training, supply support and support equipment impacts. Furthermore, should the ATE fail to operate, impacts to the systems which it supports must also be minimized     

Methodologies in user interface design

Software applications that require a high learning curve, a mountain of documentation, and weeks of training should be things of the past. Today's applications need to be simple to learn and to use. The human/computer interface should be intuitive and consistent. Context sensitive help should be available to keep the user on track. This paper provides some guidelines for taking commercial world concepts and applying them to the Automatic Test Equipment world. Examples included are from the Integrated Maintenance Information System (IMIS)     

Sustainment of legacy automatic test systems: lessons learned on TPS transportability

Sustainment of legacy automatic test systems (ATS) saves cost through the re-use of software and hardware. The ATS consists of the automatic test equipment (ATE), the test program sets (TPSs), and associated software. The associated software includes the architecture the TPSs run on, known as the control software or test station test executive. In some cases, to sustain the legacy ATS, it is more practical to develop a replacement ATE with the latest instrumentation, often in the form of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and software. The existing TPSs, including their hardware and test programs, then need to be transported, or translated, to the new test station. In order to understand how to sustain a legacy ATS by translating TPSs, one must realize the full architecture of the legacy ATS to be replaced. It must be understood that TPS transportability does not only include translating the original TPS from an existing language (such as ATLAS) to a new language (such as "C") to run on a new test station, but includes transporting the run-time environment created by the legacy ATS. This paper examines the similarities and differences of legacy ATE and modern COTS ATE architectures, how the ATS testing philosophy impacts the ease of TPS transportability from legacy ATE to modern-day platforms, and what SEI has done to address the issues that arise out of TPS transportability.     

罗兰-C导航系统地面台站信号模拟器设计

针对罗兰-C远程导航系统机载设备在机务内场利用ATE系统进行定检测试时无信号模拟器的状况,研制了一种罗兰-C系统地面台站信号模拟器。该模拟器具有较强的使用环境适应性,既可通过GPIB接口进行程控操作,又可通过控制面板进行手动操作。本文分析了该罗兰-C系统地面台站信号模拟器的设计思路、电路工作原理和操作使用特性。     

Developing better artificial bones

Researchers at the Center for Commercial Applications of Combustion in Space at the Colorado School of Mines are preparing the Space-DRUMS (Dynamically Responding Ultrasonic Matrix Systems) materials processing facility for transport to the International Space Station. The Space-DRUMS uses acoustic pressure beams to maintain the position of a suspended liquid or solid. Space-DRUMS will be used to extend experiments with tricalcium phosphate in the development of artificial bone material.     

The development of aeronautical mobile satellite services over thepast thirty years

This paper presents an overview of the development of aeronautical mobile satellite services (AMSS) over the past 30 years. The inherent shortcomings of present air-ground HF communications have hindered the development of civil aviation, but according to the Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS) concept aeronautical satellite communication-including Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS)-will be the key to eliminating the shortcomings of HF communication systems. Satellite-based communication and surveillance will significantly improve air traffic control (ATC) over the oceanic and remote terrestrial airspace, and it will benefit civil aviation authorities, airlines as well as passengers. This paper discusses the availability of system elements, and world wide trials, demonstrations and preoperational use of aeronautical satellite communications over past years are described. Future satellite systems possible for aeronautical communications are also discussed     

A methodology for addressing support equipment obsolescence

The rapid growth of technology over the last twenty years is providing vastly improved capabilities for both avionics and avionics test systems. Unfortunately, an environment of rapid technological growth breeds a corresponding environment of rapid technological obsolescence. Test systems developed fifteen years ago are becoming increasingly more difficult to support due to obsolescence issues and, additionally, such a test system does not reflect the current state-of-the-art for automatic test equipment. The ability of a test system to evolve is essential to providing cost-effective support systems for electronic systems. The F-15 Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS) Intermediate Support System (TISS) was developed under the Modular Automatic Test Equipment (MATE) guidelines to support the suite of F-15 electronic warfare LRUs. MATE imposed hardware architecture constraints, which were factors that contributed to its abandonment. However, the modular aspect of MATE has provided a system that can easily evolve with technological advancements. Modularity is the cornerstone of modern software systems and this is the aspect that has been exploited in the evolution of the TISS     

AEGIS ORTS-the first and future ultimate integrated diagnosticssystem

The AEGIS Weapon System's Operational Readiness Test System (ORTS) was the predecessor to current Integrated Diagnostic Systems. Evolving from cost effective, diagnostic mix modeling and analysis, it optimally integrated the diagnostic apparatus of the era with AEGIS weapons. As such system's target the 21st century, more complete integration can be achieved. An entire ship, including weapon system, hull mechanical and electrical systems, and propulsion systems can be serviced by a single Integrated Diagnostic System