Lru Test System Brochure
Lru Test System Brochure
Solution Overview
Aerospace and defense companies face soaring development costs and complexities due to many
factors including the complicated embedded software, electronics, systems, and integration challenges
required in manned/unmanned aircraft, space launch vehicles, and new urban air mobility approaches.
At the same time, the pressure to develop products and systems faster and at a lower cost continues to
rise. Dated test approaches and equipment exacerbate problems, making adaptability to changing
requirements and early product testing difficult.
At NI, we continue to develop COTS hardware and software to address the underlying needs of testing
these complex products and systems. Customers have relied on NI platforms such as PXI for years
when designing and building their own test systems. And a few years ago, with our curated ecosystem,
we codeveloped the Switch Load and Signal Conditioning (SLSC) platform, a COTS-based solution
providing greatly improved connectivity with standardized cabling, connectors, and pinouts. This
platform adds a new type of COTS-based modularity and standardization that simplifies the
implementation of the complex cabling and wiring required for these types of validation systems.
Our curated partners further extend our breadth of solutions, providing capabilities in designing,
building, and supporting LRU HIL test systems. Together, we can help improve your approach to your
LRU testing needs, from incorporating more COTS-based hardware and software in highly customized
systems from Bloomy, to achieving new types of business-level impacts using the innovative Systems
on Demand from NI’s strategic collaboration with SET GmbH and Tech180.
By building on this base of components, a variety of systems can be constructed, from smaller HIL
systems at the desktop level to large, multi-42U and beyond rack systems to test at the full systems
integration-lab level.
Figure 2. Test Systems That Scale to Requirements Based on a Modular Approach Backed by NI Hardware and
Software
A long-time challenge has been meeting a variety of often competing goals when internal and market
constraints exist. Goals, or rather desired outcomes, can normally be categorized into some versions of
the following list. One may have all or a subset of these as desired outcomes:
Additionally, while pursuing these goals, risk is often one of the most important decision criteria.
Increasing risk is usually something that will determine what is and is not going to be done. As shown in
Figure 3, having two historical choices with little overlap in value limits the likelihood of you achieving
your desired outcomes.
NI, through our Strategic Collaborations and joint investments with SET GmbH and Tech180, has developed an expanded set of choices that
enable achievement of more desired outcomes. These choices are provided by a spectrum of delivery formats that can be customized to
account for individual situations. Delivery formats can also be mixed-and-matched as required.
VeriStandReorderable
System Definition ● ◑
Documentation
System-on-Demand (SoD) is an innovative process and methodology that enables this approach to
achieve more outcomes as is shown in Figure 4. System-on-Demand and the solution delivery formats
include:
This is all accomplished through the System-on-Demand process and methodology which includes the
synthesis of test systems from requirements. A simplified illustration of this process is shown in Figure 5.
Each test system is consistent in design, in interfaces, and in the hardware and software used. This
simplifies support, obsolescence management, training, and so forth across the globe. The speed at
which test systems can be developed and the point at which test systems can be made available in the
design and test process are key aspects to how this can enable more outcomes to be achieved while
simultaneously reducing risk.
Figure 6 shows a simplified project timeline. Allotted times for test equipment and test development are
often compressed due to the realities of the product design cycle. Heroic efforts have been made over
the years by the test teams to optimize the development of test equipment and test procedures. There is
simply not much room left for optimizations, yet these organizations are regularly asked to cut costs and
schedules while meeting the testing requirements of increasingly complex UUTs.
A “core system” is a system that can be built using purely off-the-shelf components and subsystems from the System-on-Demand catalog.
Changes to the core system definition can be made as the product evolves. IO or test capabilities and requirements that are not part of the
catalog can be delayed and provided once the UUT design has been finalized.
This System-on-Demand process greatly reduces the risk that is inherent in creating test equipment for these complex UUTs/LRUs. The creation
of the test equipment does not need to be delayed until the UUT is finalized.
To learn more about SET GmbH and Tech180, please refer to their specific sections of this brochure.
Table 2 displays a matrix of what is included with each of the different solution delivery formats.
Given the scope of our expertise, we see a wide range of changes and major challenges, not only in
new markets like urban air mobility but also throughout the entire aerospace industry, including:
It’s time to fundamentally change the way the aviation industry develops and tests products. That’s why
we’ve partnered with the best suppliers in the industry to invent System on Demand (SoD). SoD is an
agile, standardized principle to design aerospace test solutions. It shifts the focus away from technical-
only solutions to a proven automated design process that tackles our customers’ real issues: time,
budget, and flexibility.
About Us
Since its foundation in 2001, SET has been growing continuously and today employs over 100 people at
four locations in Germany and the United States. As a specialist in aerospace electronics test systems
and as an aerospace development company, SET is EN9100 certified and delivers in series to
European commercial aircraft.
As flight-certified and similar products become more complex, the time necessary to meet test coverage
requirements goes up as well. You’ll need test systems sooner to keep your program on schedule and
on budget, and the old ways of building test systems won’t cut it anymore.
We’re not just a systems integrator. We’re your test partner, helping
you turn testing into a competitive advantage. Our solution starts with
agile development. Instead of waiting for your product to mature in
order to start your test system design through a slow waterfall
process, we can design, build, and validate portions of a test system
requirement by requirement as your design matures. We can even
synthesize test system requirements directly from product
requirements so you can get the test system you need with a reduced
statement of work.
The future of flight is right around the corner, but the future of test has already arrived.
About Us
Tech180 is a fast-growing tech company that’s advancing the future of aerospace engineering by
creating the most modular test systems on the market. Our reconfigurable platform reduces the time
and effort needed to translate product requirements into a test system specification, resulting in high-
quality systems that are available sooner.
Some key aspects of the Reference Architecture are its standardized and modular
connectivity scheme including pinouts, signal banking, standardized connectors,
and cables. The connectivity scheme is a primary attribute of enabling a modular,
scalable, extensible architecture.
The User Manual documents the signal types and communication interfaces that are supported, the
theory of operation, the connections, the bill-of-materials, the specifications, and the supporting software
amongst other required information. Customization of the signal path, including fault insertion, new
capabilities using FPGAs, etc. is also described.
The User Manual provide you with what you need to begin designing and building LRU test systems
using the modular, standardized, open architecture that is also part of the Systems-on-Demand solution
delivery formats.
Figure 10. Signal-Flow Architecture of a Modular and Flexible HIL Test System
these tasks using a run-time editable user interface that includes tools for value forcing, alarm
monitoring, I/O calibration, and stimulus profile editing. You can customize and extend VeriStand with a
variety of software environments such as LabVIEW, ANSI C/C++, ASAM XIL, and others for modeling
and programming.
VeriStand is architected to have a real-time engine that runs independently from the user interface to
ensure the determinism of the system you’re running. You can use VeriStand to interface with another
compute environment and application software using shared memory to preserve any needed
compatibility unique to your requirements.
Figure 12. VeriStand Coordinates and Deploys Models across Different Processors
Key Benefits
▪ Customize test sequences to meet every
requirement
▪ Automate saving and reporting test data
▪ Increase test throughput with parallel testing
▪ Efficiently replicate and deploy test systems
▪ Troubleshoot test systems with integrated
debugging tools
▪ Customize user interfaces to meet testing needs
Figure 14. Range of PXI Express Controllers and Chassis to Meet Your Needs
Avionics Buses
Avionics Communication Bus modules provide native support for
protocols such as MIL-STD-1553 and ARINC 429. Use these products
to simulate and enable communication with your UUT.
FPGA
Provide high-performance I/O and powerful FPGAs for applications that
require more than standard instruments can offer. Program with
LabVIEW FPGA or Xilinx Vivado. Run model simulations and perform
in-line data processing.
Digital I/O
Read and write switch states and binary logic. Detect open and closed
states. Interpret CMOS TTL logic levels up to 28 V logic signals. Track
counter based or encoder measurements.
Analog I/O
Interpret instrument level conditioned sensor measurements. Read and
write the voltage levels for sensors. Analyze pressure and position
measurements.
Data Acquisition
Data Acquiaition modules measure electrical or physical phenomena
with a mix of analog I/O, digital I/O, counter/timer, and trigger
functionality.
I/O Simulations
Replicate the electrical component behavior of complex sensor
signals. Simulate sensors like VDT or thermocouples, resistors, and
more. Custom capabilities like PWMs can be readily implemented on
the FPGA using LabVIEW FPGA.
Loads
Manage small loads on a single card. Combine with SLSC routing cards to reach higher level loads.
Simulate power draws from simulated resistive and RLC circuits.
▪ SET (https:/www.smart-e-tech.de/en/products/signal-conditioning-with-slsc/ )
▪ Bloomy (https://www.bloomy.com/products/slsc-and-crio-modules-and-accessories).
BASIC CUSTOM
OPTIONS
Laboratory Calibration
Calibration On-Site Calibration
Quality measurements and traceability
Calibration Replacement
Bloomy
You know that deploying a LRU validation system is much more than buying a rack of equipment. It’s designing
before requirements are complete and incorporating changes after the design is done. It’s controlling program risk
while using untried test solutions. It’s using yesterday’s technologies to create the systems of tomorrow. It’s solving
a myriad of challenges every day.
During Bloomy’s 30+ years of experience delivering highly-complex COTS-based test systems for mission-critical
programs, we’ve developed a deep understanding of these challenges, and we’ve solved them by creating an
extensive portfolio of efficient processes and highly-integrated solutions. Our expertise allows us to partner with
customers to leverage the breadth of our experience, resolving each unique challenge. In fact, NI tapped Bloomy to
codevelop SLSC and provide the first LRU validation systems using this transformative new technology. With each
system we deploy, whether it’s a simple single-unit validation system or a complex SIL with thousands of channels,
high-performance digital buses and high-fidelity models, we help our customers reduce risk, schedule, and cost.
Learn how we can partner to improve your test system experience, too! Visit bloomy.com today.
Our solutions range from single UUT We can add value to any point in your Bloomy’s comprehensive life-cycle
systems to multi-UUT SILs, and our 80 verification and validation process, support services include require-ments
percent application-ready solutions whether supplying only a test system or development through Total Productive
dramatically reduce system lead times working with you from concept through Maintenance and ob-solescence
and costs. certification. management.
NI and Primes utilize Bloomy’s expertise Bloomy’s experience with many types of As a company focused solely on test
and HIL Technology Migration Lab, a project and program management, from solutions, we’ve amassed extensive
Bloomy system available to our agile to waterfall, allows us to engage with resources, capabilities, and IP, enabling
customers, to reduce upgrade cycle risk. your team faster, with less risk. us to take on your most demanding HIL
projects.
As a fully US owned and operated Our 30+ year track record of outstanding With extensive production and integration
company, we conform to strict standards service shows that we’re able to support facilities, Bloomy is equipped to handle
of defense and cybersecurity long lifespan, multidecade programs. your largest multi-UUT development
requirements. programs.
Real-World Results
Bloomy’s systems have reduced test times by 30 percent over legacy automated
test solutions. When Bloomy delivers a test system to a customer, we provide the
documentation, designs, and software code, no matter the customer or
application. Whereas other companies lock you into using their services for any
change, large or small, Bloomy frees you to update, examine, modify, and self-
maintain your systems. And because the software is a widely-supported COTS
toolchain with LabVIEW at its core, the learning curve is dramatically eased. As a
result, change is in your power.
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