Developing a Fault Isolation Generator/Simulator for Test Program Set Development and Validation

Electronic assemblies used in modern weapon system can only be tested by using computer controlled automatic toot equipment (ATE). Complex software routines known as test programs are used with the ATE to control the testing process. A different test program is required for each item to be tested. Test programs are expensive. This is especially true for the portions of test program which isolate failures to replaceable components. Fault isolation routines often require most of the development effort. The capabilities of a test program are validated by physically inserting faults in the item being tested. Since it in not possible to inert all of the possible faults, it is not possible to fully validate a toot program. The ATE must be used during this effort, increasing costs. The proposed project will study the feasibility of developing a set of tools which will automate the fault insertion process. The target system for this effort is the Consolidated Automated Support System (CASS). The tools will be based on an existing set of TPS development tools and they will simulate the CASS, allowing TPSs to be executed and tested on a personal computer. The tools will also automatically generate fault isolation routines.