Real-Time, Remote Electronics Test Capability

The Air Force, Department of Defense (DoD) and Industry, have minimal capabilities for utilizing networked intelligence in critical testing of its prime weapon systems at all phases of maintenance. Furthermore, the Air Force is not facilitated to dynamically utilize real-time or historical information in its maintenance facilities for the improvement of test and repair. Current DoD test systems (based on test approaches developed in the 70’s) have been designed to utilized fixed test strategies which drive throughput limitations, fidelity of test limitations and affect the time spent repairing Units Under Test (UUTs). These limitations are driving the cost of maintaining Air Force primary weapon systems and affecting their availability. New technologies in the Software, Automotive and Test Industries can facilitate the development of intelligent detection, intelligent diagnostics and dynamic test program entry points. These capabilities will be enabled through use of historical data, real-time data, dynamic statistical entry point inference, modeling and diagnostic reasoners. The systemic implementation of these capabilities (referred to as NetTest) will enable the test systems of today and tomorrow to advance the Air Force’s (and DoD) repair capability in Intermediate and Depot repair facilities, as well as commercial Industry’s production and rework facilities. BENEFIT: NetTest is intended to improve the fidelity, efficiency and effectiveness of LRU/SRU repair at the Air Force''s Intermediate and Depot level repair facilities. The results will include a reduction in man hours required to perform repairs, a reduction in the amount of replacement components and SRU''s (as applicable) utilized during the repairs, an increase in SRU/LRU availability (i.e., shorter turnaround times), a reduction in sparing requirements for prime weapons systems (due to availability and lower demand for components & SRUs), lower demand on components in obsolete status and lower Cannot Duplicate (CND)/ Retest OK (RTOK) rates. These benefits will manifest themselves in overall cost reductions and prime weapon system availability/readiness. These challenges are the same as those experienced by commercial manufacturing, rework and repair facilities and allow NetTest direct application to their infrastructures as well.