“the test benches implemented
for the CIDS have led to a
significant test time reduction
for high-level tests”
AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM // SHOWCASE 2020 95
tests that have already been written to any
conceivable cabin configuration and run
them on any of the three differently
equipped test benches. Since a data-driven
interface proves to be more practical to
achieve this than definition in source code
would be, Vector developed a sophisticated
abstraction level.
ENABLING FLEXIBILITY
The Test Automation Framework (TAF) is
located between test case design and the
test execution environment, and it can be
subdivided into a lower layer, the TAF
Core, and an upper layer, which provides
test functions. The TAF Core, which
consists of a C# DLL, is generated by a
generator tool, which reads in input files:
the binary description of the cabin
equipment and the test bench
configuration. This is how the TAF Core
represents the runtime environment for
developing test functions and test cases,
and it supplies information about the test
system and cabin layout.
The upper TAF layer provides the test
functions and represents the interface to
the test design. It might be used, for
example, to define a test that checks all
reading lights. When creating this test, it is
not necessary to know how many lights
the final cabin configuration will have. In
executing the test, the system might check
200 reading lights or just 50, depending on
the actual configuration. There can also be
differences in where exactly the lamps are
connected, and this is automatically
considered by the TAF. This principle
applies to all devices of the cabin
equipment. When a test is reused in other
cabin designs or airplanes, just the lower
layer is replaced, that is, the TAF Core.
AUTOMATING TOUCHSCREEN
OPERATION
A constantly recurring obstacle to
universal test automation is posed by the
user interfaces, specifically the
touchscreens. To get around this obstacle, a
serial interface of the touchscreen is used.
This makes it possible to send commands
to the device, for example, to operate the
control knob at position XY or address the
(virtual) controls by their symbolic names.
This interface is used in CANoe to
maximize the degree of test automation.
According to the Airbus testers, the test
benches implemented for the CIDS have
led to a significant test time reduction for
high-level tests - from one week up to 60
minutes. The new systems can handle up
to 6,000 input/output channels, and they
are distinguished by their high degree of
flexibility. This flexibility makes it easy to
reuse already written tests for other
configurations and product lines.
In developing complex systems in the
aerospace industry today, testing expense
can already represent up to one-half of
total development costs. This makes it
clearer how urgent it is to provide
comprehensive and sustainable test
solutions. Test automation plays a key role
here. The challenge is how to combine test
automation and flexibility while keeping
costs in check. The solution is an optimally
tuned package of standard test software
and hardware that can be used at a suitable
point to supplement customer-specific
extensions. Such a solution considers the
special aspects of a particular project. This
conceptual approach is well-suited for any
of the complex systems found in the
aerospace, automotive, commercial vehicle,
rail and maritime industries, and beyond
and offers a considerable reduction in
expenditure while at the same time
maintaining a high-quality level of the
end product. \\
Kuno Jandaurek is research manager, systems and
test operations at FFT; Markus Neuhaus is chief
engineer at FFT; Sebastian Mezger is line manager
and project manager in customer-specific test
systems at Vector and Dr. Arne Brehmer is the head
of the aerospace business area at Vector Informatik.
3 // Overview and control
panel for the lavatories
(Photo: Vector Informatik)
4 // Different layers of the
Test Automation
Framework (TAF) (Photo:
Vector Informatik)
3
4
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