A methodology for enhancing legacy TPS/ATS sustainability via employing Synthetic Instrumentation technology

This paper presents a methodology for mitigating Test Program Set (TPS) & Automatic Test System (ATS) obsolescence and enhancing TPS/ATS sustainability via employing Synthetic Instrumentation (SI) technology. The methodology and the associated sub- processes described within this paper represent a major paradigm shift in current support equipment hardware & software sustainability approaches and will have a profound impact on the process of supporting and maintaining legacy automated test systems (ATS) and TPSs now and into the future. The subject methodology was validated employing the Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) RF Test Platform as the demonstration vehicle test bed. The proof-of-concept demonstration validated the concept of emulating and replacing several legacy Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) instruments with synthetic instrument technology. The primary goals of validating this technology paradigm were to provide an environment that would reduce TPS rework costs, decrease ATS maintenance and repair costs, and enhance the sustainability of legacy ATSs/TPSs going forward. During the course of this project the synthetic instrument technology insertion paradigm was demonstrated to the at-large DOD maintenance community.