Implementation of ATML Test Results on the USAF Versatile Depot Automated Test Station

Abstract

The VDATS (Versatile Depot Automatic Test Station) is a Department of Defense (DoD) approved Family of Testers for the Air Force. Conceptualization began in 2006 and VDATS became a reality shortly after with the first article tester demonstrated at IEEE AUTOTESTCON 2007. Forward looking in their approach, the USAF VDATS team made the determination early in the program to employ the DoD ATS Framework where possible to standardize both hardware and software interfaces. ATML (Automatic Test Markup Language) is a DoD ATS Framework component and an emerging IEEE standard that defines a universal framework for ATS software interfaces. ATML Test Results supports the storage of results of an individual Test Program Set (TPS) execution cycle in a standardized format utilizing Extensible Markup Language (XML). ATML shows great promise toward reducing support and maintenance costs and improving interoperability. The VDATS program has enabled the Air Force to rehost scores of test programs from unsupportable legacy test systems; each test program containing test report formats unique to each legacy test system. Incorporating a universal model for test data capture and reporting is one key benefit of ATML Test Results. In addition, for VDATS, the Air Force is seeking to maximize the value of ATML Test Results by taking advantage of the inherent analysis capabilities, including the detection of problem areas in test systems, TPS design optimization, and monitoring of UUT (Unit Under Test) component failure rates. The VDATS ATML Initiative leverages the SBIR program to integrate ATML Test Results into VDATS and develop some useful analysis tools. This paper will present an overview of the VDATS software, Test Results implementation, key decisions, and actual test and analysis results based on real UUTs.