Automatic Test Markup Language

XML (extensible Markup Language) is clearly emerging as a present and future cornerstone technology applicable for insertion into Automated Test Systems (ATS). The DoD-sponsored Automatic Test Markup Language (ATML) group is applying XML to ATS architectures in an effort to enhance data exchangeability. As the standard is emerging, there is a critical opportunity to participate in ATML’s development and to refine and validate the standard by implementing a baseline ATML ATS. Vektrex, and its partners NGC and TYX are uniquely qualified to carry out this baseline activity, which will demonstrate the feasibility of XML application to ATS on the Air Force Electronic Systems Test Station (ESTS). Vektrex and our partners, Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) and TYX, actively participate in ATML and have actively participated in this group since its inception. Furthermore, Vektrex has a long-standing commitment to related ATS standards and technology, particularly in the area of instrumentation and instrument I/O. For example, Vektrex is a founding member of the IVI Foundation and it has been a key contributor to the IVI standards over the past six years. Vektrex’ IVI driver development tools are used by leading test equipment manufacturers and ATS integrators. Vektrex’ partner TYX also has extensive ATS standards expertise. For over fifteen years, the TYX Corporation has been engaged in the development of ATS test program development and documentation tools, test program compilers and test executives. TYX’s ATLAS tools are the de-facto standard in DoD applications. NGC is a well-known large systems integrator and the designer of the ESTS test station. NGC is very active in the ATML working group sending representatives to participate in each of the subcommittees. This project builds on the completed Phase 1 work and work that is currently being done in the ATML standards group extending existing schema’s, defining additional schema, and demonstrating an implementation validating the feasibility of XML application to ATS in a real-world application on the AF ESTS platform.