Bridging the testability analysis/test program gap -An approach that builds on the Navy's integrated diagnostics support system

Abstract

We in the defense industq are all facing the reality of reduced budgets. Now more than ever it is necessary to work efficiently and effectively and in a concurrent engineering manner when developing Test Program Sets (TPSs). An approach is presented that has the potential to develop the Test Program (TP) portion of the TPS utilizing the data supplied by the Navy's Integrated Diagnostics Support System (IDSS). The IDSS is an integrated set of software tools which span the life cycle of a system while effectively exchanging information between other engineering disciplines. The IDSS Weapon System Testability Analyzer (WSTA) aids in achieving system testability goals, and also provides a precomputed test strategy from which Figures of Merit (FOMs) associated with the diagnostic process are derived (Mean Time To Isolate; Mean Time To Repair; etc.). The precomputed test strategy and the model of the system may be forwarded to the test site where the IDSS Adaptive Diagnostic Subsystem (A D S) will isolate failures to the faulty components or subsystems. The model of the system is provided since the ADS is not limited to thc use of only the precomputed test strategy, but may also use on-line reasoners to diagnose faults. However, it is recognized that direct implementation of the test strategy provided by the WSTA for TPS applications is not likely since special classes of tests (safe to power on; etc.) and the ability to constrain sequences of tests for effective resource utilization are not presently supported in the tool. A new test program development process is proposed that will build on the integrated diagnostic approaches espoused by the IDSS. Key elements of the process are presented.