Data Visualisation for Ground Test Support
Data visualisation for a highly modular and flexible ground test support system developed with experience in flight-testing. The structure of modern aircraft architecture and the interaction of the sub-systems demand a high complexity of test data evaluation.
One step during the verification of a device or subsystem to comply with the airworthiness requirements is ground testing. Each test must be compatible to the design validation and verification process of the Unit Under Test. Simulation and Analysation of signal interactions over a complete network structure are necessary steps for complete ground verification.
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) Military Aircraft, a leader in new technologies, offers overall system integration capability for military aircraft. Within this company, the organization "Test Instrumentation and Tools" develops flight test instrumentation and test support systems to support ground- and flight-testing. Know-how gained from many types of military aircraft has been interlinked. The current product AIDASS® (Advanced Integrated Data Acquisition and Stimulation System) is a highly modular and flexible test ground support system for overall testing, SW maintenance and training.
Key Test Functions
A graphical user interface (GUI) based on Microsoft Windows lets the operator focus on the test task. Docking Windows, menus, dialogs are well known standard graphical elements. The com- plete test, beginning with preparation of the test, up to the final test result documentation, is divided into test functions, which are supported by this graphical user interface.
A tool for test management is necessary for support of automated tests. Therefore the test system has to support test scripts generation, test set-up, test execution, test data storage and test data evaluation, including a test report.
As tests have to be maintained during the whole life cycle of the system, they must be kept under configuration control, including access control, storage and change management. Sometimes there are situations requiring additional test steps out of an automated test. For example, if an abnormal event occurred or a bug in the Unit Under Test was found, deviations from the automated test steps must be documented in the test report.
The Data visualisation functionality of AIDASS allows checking the value of any signal or set of signals defined in the signal definition. It is possible to display a single parameter value or, more versatile, to display a complete message or a list of signals. Different types of numerical or graphical displays can be used for visualisation.
Data Analysis with Origin
In Addition, the data is stored for further off-line analysis. For this ADDIVE GmbH customized the Origin® software. Origin is a standard Microsoft Windows software package for data analysis and visualization. It offers fast access to large data sources, a wide range of mathematical and statistical functions plus more than 60 graph types, that can be extended by the end user.
Origin gains access to the AIDASS data sources to read data, from which the user can generate displays and determine trends. The user can recall the data in tabular or graphic form. Wizards with standard Windows control elements are provided to automate routine evaluation and display tasks.
Origin's features include modern and versatile tools that were used to customize Origin for AIDASS Data Evaluation:
One step during the verification of a device or subsystem to comply with the airworthiness requirements is ground testing. Each test must be compatible to the design validation and verification process of the Unit Under Test. Simulation and Analysation of signal interactions over a complete network structure are necessary steps for complete ground verification.
European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) Military Aircraft, a leader in new technologies, offers overall system integration capability for military aircraft. Within this company, the organization "Test Instrumentation and Tools" develops flight test instrumentation and test support systems to support ground- and flight-testing. Know-how gained from many types of military aircraft has been interlinked. The current product AIDASS® (Advanced Integrated Data Acquisition and Stimulation System) is a highly modular and flexible test ground support system for overall testing, SW maintenance and training.
Design of the Test Support System AIDASS
The basic hardware configuration of AIDASS is a standard Microsoft Windows PC, used for the GUI (Graphical User Interface) and a single VME-crate with a few interfaces and real time processors. Basically it can be upgraded to an extensive system, when numerous interfaces are integrated in several VME-crates grouped in more than one cabinet.- Various interfaces like analogue converters, discrete processors, including the adaptation of sensors like LVDT and anti-aliasing and noise filters.
- Data bus interfaces like MIL-1553B, EFABUS, EFABUS-Express,
- FO-DDL, CCDL, ARINC 429, CAN, PANLINK, RS422, RS232, GPIB, AFDX, PCM, Ethernet
- Modules for synchronisation of the system to external references like IRIG-B or GPS
- Special firmware extensions for handling extended bus protocols, time tagging, analysing of transfer protocols, analysing of error handling protocols, hyper protocols, gateways, software loading and verifying protocols.
Different Types of AIDASS Ground Test Tools
Key Test Functions
A graphical user interface (GUI) based on Microsoft Windows lets the operator focus on the test task. Docking Windows, menus, dialogs are well known standard graphical elements. The com- plete test, beginning with preparation of the test, up to the final test result documentation, is divided into test functions, which are supported by this graphical user interface.
A tool for test management is necessary for support of automated tests. Therefore the test system has to support test scripts generation, test set-up, test execution, test data storage and test data evaluation, including a test report.
As tests have to be maintained during the whole life cycle of the system, they must be kept under configuration control, including access control, storage and change management. Sometimes there are situations requiring additional test steps out of an automated test. For example, if an abnormal event occurred or a bug in the Unit Under Test was found, deviations from the automated test steps must be documented in the test report.
The Data visualisation functionality of AIDASS allows checking the value of any signal or set of signals defined in the signal definition. It is possible to display a single parameter value or, more versatile, to display a complete message or a list of signals. Different types of numerical or graphical displays can be used for visualisation.
Data Analysis with Origin
In Addition, the data is stored for further off-line analysis. For this ADDIVE GmbH customized the Origin® software. Origin is a standard Microsoft Windows software package for data analysis and visualization. It offers fast access to large data sources, a wide range of mathematical and statistical functions plus more than 60 graph types, that can be extended by the end user.
Origin gains access to the AIDASS data sources to read data, from which the user can generate displays and determine trends. The user can recall the data in tabular or graphic form. Wizards with standard Windows control elements are provided to automate routine evaluation and display tasks.
Origin's features include modern and versatile tools that were used to customize Origin for AIDASS Data Evaluation:
- Integration of arbitrary DLLs into Origin thus extending it's build-in functions
- Automation of routine tasks such as calculations and graph / report creation
- Adding GUIs with standard Microsoft Windows Look Feel
- Adding additional Display types as templates and themes
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