Next generation functional test program development system

While superior-quality functional board test has been a goal for most high reliability electronics manufacturers, the time and effort for generating such test programs using today's tools and processes makes this difficult to achieve in a cost effective manner. This paper will introduce a revolutionary approach to functional board test program development that combines the comprehensiveness of software-based simulation with the speed and simplicity of hardware emulation. The result is a functional Test Program Set development system that can produce high fault coverage, diagnostic test programs in a fraction of the time it takes using traditional techniques, and at a lower unit cost. In this paper we will first provide a brief background on the strengths and weaknesses of current software and hardware TPS development techniques-simulation hot mock-up. Next, the new approach is described in detail and contrasted against the existing techniques. Finally, actual experience to date using a prototyped system is presented     

虚拟测试平台技术研究

提出将各种主流仿真、计算机辅助设计、诊断推理和虚拟仪器软件的核心运行组件进行集成,构成功能完备、配置灵活、用户免编程的虚拟测试平台,来满足高性能智能化产品动态测试、参数调整与优化、诊断排故的需要。对虚拟测试平台所具备的功能、系统结构及关键技术进行了详细的论述,最后结合智能运动控制系统的全数字与半实物仿真测试,就虚拟测试平台的典型应用进行了讨论。     

智能检测技术在靶场测控设备中的应用及前景

综合运用先进的GPS授时技术和数字仿真、虚拟仪器结构、可视化编程等计算机软件技术，构建新一代靶场智能型检测系统，解决对野外分散站点上测控设备进行检测、标校、监控和测控网通信联试等技术问题。着重阐述智能化检测技术在靶场的应用及发展趋势，为技术人员开发测试软件提供参考。     

Instrumenting embedded test software in support system integration, factory production, and depot repair

Embedded built-in test (BIT) software typically provides a system-level go/no-go indication and, in the presence of a failure, may provide some level of sub-system isolation. This level of reporting, while meeting the customer's operational requirements, does little to support system integration, production, and repair. To support these other needs, "instrumentation code" is added to the BIT software to provide detailed test data through an external interface. Since the BIT software already accesses the hardware parameters for testing, it becomes the most logical component for the instrumentation. This paper describes the techniques of embedding instrumentation during BIT design and development to support a broad range of program test needs. It explains the costs and benefits associated with the use of instrumentation. It gives specific examples of instrumented software and describes how instrumentation data can be used during environmental tests, factory test, and depot test. The impact instrumentation has on software development time, code size, execution time, and reliability is discussed as well as the cost of retrofitting BIT software to add instrumentation. Some of the benefits as well as the challenges to developing effective embedded instrumentation is also examined.     

二坐标交互式图形数控程序自动编程系统研究

 本文探讨了如何将交互式图形理论同二坐标数控程序的编制集成为一体,并发展了自动编程的软件包AUTOP。 研究表明,用交互式图形进行二维数控程序编制,具有良好的透明性和用户界面;应用动态仿真算法,具有形象,快速和准确的优点;在二坐标方面,可以用交互式图形数控程序自动编程系统来取代APT语言。     

电子对抗仿真器的设计

用电子对抗系统仿真器代替真实的设备参与飞机航电系统综合试验, 是为了获得更好的动态效果, 减少测试的复杂性, 降低实际费用。本文在分析电子对抗系统功能的基础上, 提出了仿真器的基本设计方案及软件设计技术, 最后, 介绍了软件测试方法。     

Vertical test integration

Today, most every weapon system is electronics intensive. Digital computers are at the core of military aircraft, ship, and vehicle weapons systems. Indeed, each weapon system's performance is largely determined by its digital computers and other electronics. This electronics dependency is necessary in order to provide the speed, functional compliance, and accuracy to achieve the required weapon system performance. Historically, test systems required for the various maintenance levels and also at the manufacturing site have each been uniquely developed, employed, and sustained for only one area of weapon system electronics support. There are a number of reasons for this situation including different organizations responsible for the levels of support, different funding sources, timing limitations, and technical feasibility. In recent years, however, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) advances in measurement and stimulation hardware, personal computers, Windows operating systems, flexible test programming languages, and more, have made it technically feasible to develop a family of test systems that provide common weapon system electronics support at all levels. Some use the phrase Vertical Test Integration to describe this concept of factory/field/depot integration     

航空发动机数控系统综合仿真平台设计

综合现有软硬件资源,采用模块化方法设计了航空发动机数字电子控制系统综合仿真平台,其框架主要包括发动机模型系统、传感器信号模拟与处理、控制器快速原型等子系统.发动机模型系统采用集成仿真环境调用液压执行装置和发动机数学模型库方式设计;快速原型系统采用Matlab/Simulink环境下将控制程序封装成S-Function的方法设计;软件设计重点描述了混合编程与定时器编程技术.以某双轴涡扇发动机为应用对象,进行控制系统数字仿真、半物理模拟试验和台架试车,在相同控制参数下,仿真试验与台架试车结果相似,表明所设计综合仿真平台具有工程应用价值.      

MMAE-based control redistribution applied to the VISTA F-16

A novel control technique, termed control redistribution, is presented and applied in conjunction with multiple model adaptive estimation (MMAE) to the variable in-night stability test aircraft (VISTA) F-16, to detect and compensate for sensor and/or actuator failures. This ad hoc method redistributes control commands (that would normally be sent to failed actuators) to the nonfailed actuators, accomplishing the same control action on the aircraft. Dither is considered to help disambiguate failures in the longitudinal and lateral-directional channels. Detection of both single-actuator and single-sensor failures is considered. Failures are demonstrated detectable in less than 1 s, with an aircraft output nearly identical to that anticipated from a fully functional aircraft in the same environment     

通用型机载火控系统精度测试系统设计

分析了通用型机载火控系统精度测试系统的功能要求,介绍了基于PC104总线的通用型机载火控系统精度测试系统硬件的通用平台和基于测试模型的软件通用平台的设计方法,最后分析了系统设计的主要技术难点和解决方法.     

Selecting a programming language for your project

Since the mandate was dropped that the Ada language had to be used in all DoD projects, software managers have had more freedom to choose which programming language to use on their DoD projects. For most new DoD software projects that need a general purpose high-level language, Ada, C, or C++ are the main contenders, with increasing attention paid to the new language celebrity, Java. Furthermore, multilanguage systems seems to be getting increasingly popular. As a result, companies offer integrated multilanguage programming environments. Although each programming language has its own strengths and weaknesses, the reason for choosing a particular language may ultimately be based on factors having nothing to do with the technical merits of the language itself. Such factors may include the availability of compilers for the host/target, the maturity and efficiency of available compilers, the availability of programmers who already know the language, whether the language can easily interface with existing systems such as graphical user interfaces or data bases, the existence of legacy software written in a specific language, or how well the language fits in with adopted COTS products. A few common misconceptions that may affect the choice of a programming language are listed     

Software architecture for building

Test system developers can benefit greatly from a software architecture that allows for easy interchangeability of instruments in those systems. Using open industry standard software architectures such as Virtual Instrument Software Architecture (VISA), and Interchangeable Virtual Instruments (IVI), developers are able to create systems with interchangeable test instrumentation. This paper describes the VISA and IVI software standards and demonstrates how their use within a broader software architecture, which includes standard development environments and flexible test executive software, facilitates the creation of interchangeable test systems     

Using interchangeable virtual instrument (IVI) drivers to increasetest system performance

Instrument driver technology has evolved tremendously over the last decade. Initiatives such as SCPI and VXIplug&play have simplified remote instrument programming with standardized command messages and high-level utility functions. The latest initiative is the Interchangeable Virtual Instrument (IVI) Foundation. IVI defines standards for instrument drivers that offer benefits to provide higher performance. These benefits include instrument interchangeability, instrument simulation, and instrument state-caching. Because instrument drivers are an integral part of a modern test system, IVI promises to provide developers with the tools to increase their system performance significantly. This paper reviews the technical aspects of the IVI specification and the TVI architecture and describes how IVI can help the test system developer improve performance and lower long-term software maintenance costs     

混合总线测控系统在R0110燃气轮机低排放试验中的应用

针对R0110燃气轮机低排放试验内容的要求,提出了对试验平台的测试与控制系统的设计方案,并详细介绍了该试验平台测试系统与控制系统的硬件与软件结构和功能的实现,其中通过利用混合总线方式将原测试系统与新测试系统相结合,扩展了试验器的测试能力.根据试验中多路燃料供给规律的要求,提出燃料供给手动、自动2种控制方式,进一步提高了试验控制上的智能性.在自动控制程序设计中,充分考虑了燃料供应的风险,并制定了相应的处理方案,保障了试验的顺利完成,而且提高了该试验器的智能化水平和整体测控能力.     

航空发动机试车数据分析软件简介

介绍了使用高级程序设计语言Visual Basic开发的航空发动机试车数据分析软件的构成、功能和特点。实际应用与试验对比证明,该软件不仅结果准确,而且省时、简便、实用性强。     

微惯性测量组合的计算机测试系统

介绍了一个微惯性测量组合(MIMU)的计算机测试系统，对该系统的结构，硬件组成、软件设计进行了描述，重点介绍了系统软件设计中的关键技术：RS232通讯测试技术、VC和Labwindows／CVI的混合编程技术、多线程技术、VC和Matlab的混合编程技术。该系统具有良好的通用性和可扩展性，基于高性能CPU和(CPLD、FPGA等技术的微惯性测量组合的测试过程可以大大提高工作效率，缩短研发周期。     

Evaluation of three ATE test environments

It is often difficult to assess the positive and negative issues facing the use of a particular software test environment in a given application. Much of the literature is swayed by the use of each environment by a single application. This paper will provide detailed information on ARGO Systems evaluation of three popular ATE Test Environments: the Ada Based Environment for Testing (ABET), the TYX PAWS ATLAS test environment and the National Instruments LabVIEW graphical test environment. This evaluation was accomplished by comparing the same test program measurements in each environment using the same UUT, interface test adapter, and the same PC-based ATE. As such, the data represents a true apples-to-apples comparison of these environments     

Developing error-free software

The authors describe experience gained in designing reconfiguration-error-free software at IBM's Federal Systems Division in Houston. From 1982-5, this division reduced software product defects to 0.11 errors per thousand lines of source code. Four measurements defining software quality are described. Also discussed is NASA's development of a standardized software support environment, and the US Department of Defense Software Technology for Adaptive Reliable Systems (STARS) program. These environments provide for early control, standardization, and integration of requirements, leading to more easily maintained software and reduction of critical skill level for its maintenance     

Theater battle management core system lessons for systems engineers

The difficulties encountered during development of the theater battle management core system (TBMCS) provide lessons for systems engineering of large-scale, software-intensive systems. The absence of formal requirements and oversight, coupled with strong pressure for rapid deployment, caused the program to fail its first operational tests and actually delayed its deployment to the Held. The lack of measurable requirements and the need to integrate multiple third-party products and systems made it impossible to establish a system baseline and to test TBMCS in realistic conditions. Thus, significant problems manifested themselves only during official government tests. Moreover, despite nominal authority, the lead contractor had little or no control over the government-furnished elements and commercial off-the-shelf products that TBMCS was to incorporate. Experience with TBMCS leads to several conclusions. First, the more complex a system, the greater the need for rigor and discipline in engineering processes. Second, well-defined requirements are essential. Third, mandating the incorporation of specific third-party hardware or software may create severe problems for system development. Other lessons highlight the importance of open standards in a heterogeneous information technology environment and of layering with well-defined interfaces to facilitate integration and system evolution     

A new procedure for aerodynamic missile designs using topological optimization approach of continuum structures

This paper presents a multi-objective programming scheme for the conceptual design of aerodynamic missile's structure using topological optimization approaches, in which both the compliance and eigenfrequency are regarded as static and dynamic optimization objectives, respectively. During the conceptual design of the aerodynamic missile with multiple loadings, both the multilevel sequential programming approach and the compromising programming method are coupled together to settle the associated difficulties when the whole structure of the missile body is considered as a pre-defined design domain. The compromise programming method is first applied to describe the statically loaded multi-stiffness topology optimization, and the dynamic formulation is used to establish the subsequent optimization problem mainly concerned with free vibration. The main advantage of the proposed scheme is the flexibility of dealing with optimal topology designs for the whole structures of aerodynamic missiles with complicated loading cases. Solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) is used as the interpolation scheme to indicate the dependence of material modulus upon regularized element densities. The sequential convex programming approach is applied to solve the optimization problem. An engineering application is used to demonstrate the characteristics of the presented methodologies based on the commercial software package of Hyperworks.OptiStruct at Altair®.