Editor's Note: Autotestcon–Not Just for Mil/Aero Test Anymore
Dan Romanchik, Editor -- Test & Measurement World, 1/1/2003
The IEEE's Autotestcon has a well-deserved reputation as the premier conference for test engineers who are responsible for designing military and aerospace test systems. The conference draws an engaging set of speakers as well as interested attendees.
In recent years, Autotestcon has begun covering topics that apply to ATE in general, so consider attending the show even if you're not a mil/aero engineer.
Over the last decade, the military has moved from using completely custom-designed test sets to using commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) instrumentation wherever possible. Several sessions at the most recent Autotestcon (October 15–17, 2002, in Huntsville, AL) focused on how to best use COTS technologies.
One session featured papers on the Interchangeable Virtual Instrument (IVI) standards–standards that apply whether the test system is a military test set or commercial ATE. Also, many mil/aero test systems now use VXI instruments, and in one panel discussion it was noted that PXI instruments are also a good, and maybe even a preferred, choice. (See "VXI or PXI?" p. 1.)
Other papers covered remote vehicle diagnostics and DiagML—an XML dialect for diagnostics information. Commercial test engineers, including those in the auto industry, could use ideas from many of the presentations to improve their own diagnostics.
Autotestcon 2003 will be held September 22–25 in Anaheim CA. Even if you can't go, get a copy of the proceedings and keep up with developments (www.autotestcon.com).
