Payoffs from linking design and test

In too many instances, test is still an afterthought of design, which slows the development process and lengthens time to market. Dr. James Truchard of National Instruments discusses the benefits of integrating design with automated testing routines.

T&MW: How much progress are manufacturers making in bringing the design and test of products closer together?

TRUCHARD: We're beginning to see some real advancements, especially in automotive, where electronic content is growing dramatically. You find applications, for example, where a spring and an electronic circuit are designed into the same component, and you have to test electronics and mechanical properties simultaneously. Here, engineers might be using CAD and finite element analysis on the mechanical side, along with an EDA tool like Spice to do simulation of circuits. Finally, they will incorporate a software-based testing tool like LabView to make real-world measurements on the components and feed this data into the design. Combining all these tools can greatly reduce the number of prototypes or the need to refine a model later in the process.

T&MW: What makes this integration possible?

TRUCHARD: Software vendors have made a lot of progress in making their products more interoperable so that files and data can be transferred more easily. Also, today's powerful computers make it a lot easier to have multiple software tools operating together in the same environment.

T&MW: Can you cite some examples of progress in the electronics field?

TRUCHARD: Communications is a good one. In digital signal processing, for example, the same algorithms can be used in design, test, and manufacturing. NI has taken a major step in this direction in a new initiative with Texas Instruments that integrates LabView with TI's Code Composer Studio development tools for creating DSPs. Engineers can now use LabView during the design-modeling phase to create tests that identify design flaws before prototype construction. This reduces time to market, which is very important for designers of digital media players, wireless LAN systems, motor controls, and other electronic products.

T&MW: What are the obstacles that prevent greater integration of design and test?

TRUCHARD: There are several factors, one of the most important being that several vendors are furnishing these solutions. We need better cooperation, which is why our company has put a major focus on developing closer relationships with other software firms. For example, we are improving the LabView interface with Ansoft, a leader in RF design solutions, as well as with EDA vendors that provide Spice tools. We also recently acquired the MATRIXx product line, a set of software tools for designing controls and for simulating dynamic systems in aerospace applications.

T&MW: Are most design engineers anxious to take on test responsibilities?

TRUCHARD: It is happening more and more, especially as engineers get used to automated test tools in the college setting. We also are putting a great deal of stress on training and seminars for more veteran engineers who want to automate the testing process. The payoff, of course, is the ability of these engineers and their companies to really slash the development time of a product and to get a design more quickly into validation and testing. Productivity increases tremendously—often by 50% or more—as engineers automate and avoid the tedious and time-consuming practices of the past.