software testing
STANDARDIZED AND
SCALABLE TEST SYSTEMS
Improving efficiency and reliability in the integration and testing of
cyber-physical aviation systems through a standardized test environment
// OTTMAR BAUER
Integration, testing and verification of
avionics systems is often a grueling
battle when it comes to configuration
and tools. Tests at different stages of
development are separated from each
other, the setups of the different
manufacturers of tools may be
incompatible. Schedules cannot be adhered
to and costs are unnecessarily driven up.
This is reason enough to develop an
open standard for test systems and tests.
The Virtual Hybrid Testing Next
Generation project (VHTNG), has seen the
German and French authorities,
manufacturers and users of avionic test
systems join forces to develop such an open
standard. They are supported by publicly
funded projects in Germany by the
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und
Energie (BMWi) and in France by the
Direction générale de l’aviation
civile (DGAC).
This standard covers the configuration
of test systems, the control of the systems
and the data exchange between the
systems, as well as a uniform simulation
interface model and a standardized test
script specification. The requirements
include the possibility of virtual testing
and hybrid testing with reusability of the
tests at all development stages from modelbased
testing up to system verification and
validation. Fault insertion, real-time data
exchange, scalability and integration with
product lifecycle management tools are
also on the agenda.
The standard is not too narrowly
defined. It limits itself to defining the
minimum information that is required for
the test means interconnection in order to
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not restrict the creativity of the test
equipment manufacturers.
The standard defines a common model
of a test system organized around a few
entities and a simple behavior.
MODULES AND OBJECTS
Modules are the basic building blocks of a
test system. They communicate with each
other and they hold objects in a
hierarchical structure, which implement
the function. A module can be provided by
a single computer but also a complete
function integration bench with several
real-time computers and display computers
can be handled as a module. There are
specialized function modules, such as a
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