Augmenting legacy military ate for functional test using NxTest technology

Typical military Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) usually consists of a number of single channel stimulus and measurement devices connected to the UUT with a switch matrix, providing traditional serial, parametric test with its lengthy test times. Functional Test methodology tests a unit by simulating its environment and verifying that the unit operates correctly in that environment. This requires simultaneous stimulus and measurement capability that is not usually found in traditional military ATE. Boeing Support Systems is currently in the process of augmenting an existing military test station to provide functional test capability through the use of NxTest Technology. This paper will discuss our approach to adding Functional Test capability to an existing piece of equipment.