SBIR-STTR Award

PCA proposes conducting research towards a software system to analyzetest program set (TPS) source code and extract, synthesize, and analyze test parameters, interface characteristics, and switching requirements. It will then compare this data against an interface specificationdatabase for a designated Automatic Test System (ATS) to generate a pin mapping and interface definition file that may be used to 1) reprogram or re-host the original TPS, and 2) design Interface Connection Device (ICD) hardware. Research will investigate the feasibility of 1) developing specialized compiler technology to extract required TPS data, 3) mapping Unit-Under-Test (UUT) input/output (I/O) pin data from one ATS to another, and 4) mapping I/O data to ATS interfaces whose standards are in flux. Research will also investigate methods and formats for outputting data to Computer- Aided Design (CAD) software to automatically design an ICD for the target ATS. Our Phase I research goal will be to define requirements for a prototype software that may be productized under Phase II to support the rapid rehost of TPSs from one ATS to another. The prototype will be demonstrated using TPSs to be rehosted from a legacy Army ATS to the Integrated Family of Test Equipment(IFTE).

Benefits:
Successful results of this research will benefit and promise savings to the DOD, aviation maintainers, automotive electronics diagnosticians, and commercial electronics manufacturers vendors who test, repair, and maintain complex electronic systems. Savings are estimated on the order of tens of millions of dollars per year.

PCA proposes developing a software system to analyze test program set (TPS) source code to extract, synthesize, and analyze test parameters, interface characteristics, and switching requirements. The tool will compare this data against an interface specification database for a designated Automatic Test System (ATS) to generate a pin mapping and interface definition database that will help to: reprogram or rehost the original TPS, and to design Interface Connection Device (IOD) hardware. Development will include programming, integration, and testing the following tool elements: 1) Specialized compiler programs to extract required TPS data, 2) programs to map Unit-Under-Test (UUT) input/output (I/O) pin data from one ATS to another, 3) the Graphical User Interface (GUI), and 5) Output Reports and data files for integration with Computer Aided Design (CAD) to automate the development of rehost ICDs for the target ATS. Our Primary Phase II goal will be to develop a prototype software tool that can be applied to support the many Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine TPS rehost programs now being planned through 2006. The software tool will be demonstrated using TPSs to be rehosted from a legacy Army ATS to the Army's Integrated Family of Test Equipment (IFTE).

Benefits:
Successful results of this research will benefit the DOD, aviation maintainers, automotive electronics diagnosticians, and commercial electronics manufacturers who test, repair, and maintain complex electronic Systems. Savings are estimated on the order of hundreds of millions of dollars per year