Programmable Test Research Articles

Automated design of embedded digital signal processing systems on SOC platform

The object of the study is the procedures for automated design and analysis of digital signal processing algorithms on the SoC technology platform. The subject of the study is models, methods and procedures for designing and optimal selection of SoC components for the implementation of digital signal processing algorithms for audio spectrum. The aim of the study is to develop models and procedures for determining the possibilities of a compromise distribution of signal processing algorithm computations in the cycle of computer-aided design on the SoC technology platform in terms of performance and the feasibility of using hardware and software algorithms realization. The article solves the following tasks: consideration of the procedures for interacting the processor core with programmable logic as part of system-on-chip systems; development of procedures for computer-aided design and analysis of signal processing systems using programming languages and hardware description languages for the implementation of embedded systems. The following methods are being used: implementation of digital signal processing algorithms in the C programming language and high-level synthesis tools for realizing IP blocks, diagnostic experiment by generating test signal patterns, and analysis of the processing results at the system output. The results achieved. Based on the analysis of the procedures for the interaction of the processor core and programmable logic on the selected SoC platform, a model of the audio spectrum signal processing system is designed. The practical implementation was performed based on the Vivado/Vitis/Vitis HLS CAD tool stack. The proposed model was verified using a programmable test signal generator and analyzing the obtained characteristics of digital filters at the system output. Conclusions. The article analyzes the principles of designing embedded information processing systems implemented in system-on-chip. The principles of building and analyzing digital signal processing systems based on system-on-chip containing programmable logic and processor parts are considered. The developed methods have been tested on the algorithms of CIC and FIR filters on the technological platform of SoC FPGA of the ZYNQ-7000 family of Xilinx company.

An empirical study to compare three web test automation approaches: NLP‐based, programmable, and capture&replay

AbstractA new advancement in test automation is the use of natural language processing (NLP) to generate test cases (or test scripts) from natural language text. NLP is innovative in this context and promises of reducing test cases creation time and simplifying understanding for “non‐developer” software testers as well. Recently, many vendors have launched on the market many proposals of NLP‐based tools and testing frameworks but their superiority has never been empirically validated. This paper investigates the adoption of NLP‐based test automation in the web context with a series of case studies conducted to compare the costs of the NLP testing approach—measured in terms of test cases development and test cases evolution—with respect to more consolidated approaches, that is, programmable (or script‐based) testing and capture&replay testing. The results of our study show that NLP‐based test automation appears to be competitive for small‐ to medium‐sized test suites such as those considered in our empirical study. It minimizes the total cumulative cost (development and evolution) and does not require software testers with programming skills.

Impedance measurement circuit based on improved voltage vector ratio method

China’s inductance value is traced back to the national inductance working base. In addition, in China’s electromagnetic metrology standard system, the inductance working standard can only be traced back to the source at 1kHz. The values at other frequencies are obtained after frequency conversion according to the distribution parameters of the inductance reference. The most accurate digital bridge is the 1689MRLC digital bridge, with impedance measurement accuracy of 0.02%, d and q measurement accuracy of 0.0001, and programmable test from 12Hz to 100kHz. Since the researchers need to work on the benchmark to ensure that the transmission capacity reaches 0.01% in the broadband (50 Hz-2.5 kHz), the measurement system needs to be redesigned.

FPAA Implementation of Chaotic Modulation Based on Nahrain Map

Due to characteristic of chaotic systems in terms of nonlinearity, sensitivity to initial values, and non-periodicity, they are used in many applications like security and multiuser transmission. Nahrain chaotic map is an example of such systems that are recently proposed with excellent features for the use in multimedia security applications. Although the implementation of chaotic systems is easy using low costanalogue ICs, this approach does not provide the flexibility that the reconfigurable analogue devices have in design possibilities such as reducing the complexity of design, real-time modification, software control and adjustment within the system. This paper presents a description of data modulation and demodulation based on Nahrain chaotic system and there hardware implementation using field programmable analogue array (FPAA) device. AN231E04 dpASP board is used as a target device for the implementation. The simulation results of system closely matched the programmable hardware testing results.

Concurrent illumination and communication: A survey on Visible Light Communication

The exceptional increase in the mobile data traffic leads to over exploitation of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum making it to become overcrowded. This necessitates relying on novel technology like Visible Light Communication (VLC) which utilizes cost-effective and solid-state illuminating devices like Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The stunning notability of enabling contemporaneous illumination and communication has driven VLC to become a revolutionary alternative to RF. This survey provides an elaborate analysis of the VLC system model, optical channel environment, modulation techniques, detailed analysis on different variants of optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OOFDM), and other modulation formats like carrier-less amplitude and phase modulation (CAP) and multi-band CAP (m-CAP) which bestows with the most feasible solution for VLC in the perspective of spectral, power and computational efficiency. In addition, multiple access schemes like orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), non orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is also the focus of this survey. Furthermore, the research advancements in enabling organic LEDs (OLEDs) and superluminescent diodes (SLDs) to penetrate the solid state lighting (SSL) industry is also highlighted. This survey provides insights about the programmable test beds facilitating real time application and signifies how VLC can be amalgamated with both the lighting infrastructure and intelligent transportation system (ITS) in smart cities. In addition, certain research challenges to be addressed is also the part of this survey.

The Design of Three Phase Programmable Testing Power Based on CPLD_DSP

A design of three phases programmable testing power program-controlled based on CPLD_DSP was introduced in the paper. RAM was driven and six DDS were generated in CPLD. RAM was driven and six DDS (three voltage signal and three current signal) were generated in CPLD. The six DDS signal was used as based signal of testing power. CPLD was programmed to control serial D/A chip named LTC1595B to adjust the value of voltage and current. Voltage signal and current signal were collected and computed and closed loop by DSP. After testing, the output frequency resolution of the system achieved 0.001Hz.The voltage and current control precision achieved 0.02%.

Practical approach to testing the transformer differential protection for internal and external faults, CT saturation and inrush transients

This study presents a methodology that allows examining the differential protection of power transformers through computational simulations and numerical relay tests. Using that purpose, the alternative transient program (ATP) was used as a computational tool to perform several different events, which the power transformers are submitted to, and that can cause mal-operation of its differential protection, such as: external and internal faults, inrush current and saturation of current transformers (CTs). A testing system was implemented in laboratory, which consisted in simulating the power system in ATP (power transformer, CTs and faults modes) and applying the simulated signals through a programmable test set to a commercial relay to evaluate their response to these events. The main results of the behaviour of transformer protection relay under the tested transients are presented and discussed in this work.

Influence of temperature and humidity on power frequency electric field intensity

ABSTRACTThe electric field intensity of substation is one of the main factors that influence the safety of power construction, but the strength of electric frequency electric field is affected by many factors. In order to study the effect of temperature and humidity on the electric field strength, the effect of temperature and humidity on the electric field strength was tested by a programmable constant temperature and humidity testing machine and the NARDA company's broadband field strength measuring instrument. The actual data were measured at the 220 kV voltage level of a substation in a place in Yuxi, Yunnan province. The experimental results show that when the temperature is constant, the electric field intensity becomes smaller as the humidity becomes larger. When the humidity is constant, as the temperature becomes larger, the electric field strength becomes smaller. And the influence of the temperature of the substation on the electric field intensity is greater than the influence of the humidity on the electric field strength.

Battery Modelling and Simulation Using a Programmable Testing Equipment

In this paper, the study and modelling of a lithium-ion battery cell is presented. To test the considered cell, a battery testing system was built using two programmable power units: an electronic load and a power supply. To communicate with them, a software/hardware interface was implemented within the National Instruments (NI) LabVIEW environment. This dedicated laboratory equipment can be used to apply charging/discharging cycles according to user defined load profiles. The battery modelling and the parameters identification procedure are described. The model was used to estimate the State Of Charge (SOC) under dynamic loading conditions. The most spread techniques used in the field of battery modelling and SOC estimation are implemented and compared.

Systematic experimental characterization of dielectric elastomer membranes using a custom-built tensile test rig

This work presents the conceptualization, fabrication, and performance of a dielectric elastomer membrane testing rig. The custom-built rig is designed to electromechanically characterize dielectric elastomer membranes by measuring physical quantities such as force, displacement, film thickness, voltage/current, capacitance, and resistance simultaneously. Due to the thin and very compliant nature of dielectric elastomer membranes, this new design seeks to minimize setup imperfections and human error by considering the specimen preparation and placement from the start. The test rig includes optical thickness sensors which provide the first known dielectric elastomer membrane thickness profile measurements of stretched and/or activated membranes. The operation of the test rig is demonstrated by testing pure shear silicone membrane specimens. Finally, this versatile programmable test rig results in a highly useful tool for further repeatable electromechanical characterization studies of dielectric elastomer membranes.

An on-chip frequency programmable test clock generation and application method for small delay defect detection

Small delay defects are posing a serious challenge to the quality and reliability of modern fabricated chips. A promising way for screening the timing-related defects in nanometer technology designs is faster-than-at-speed delay testing. However, the use of external automatic test equipment for faster-than-at-speed delay testing could be costly. In this paper, we present an on-chip frequency-programmable test clock generation method which facilitates faster-than-at-speed delay testing for both launch on capture and launch on shift test frameworks. With a reconfigurable launch-and-capture clock generator (LCCG) embedded on-chip, the required test clock, with a reconfigurable frequency and a high resolution, can be achieved by specifying the control information in the test patterns, which is then used to configure the LCCG. Similarly, the control information regarding test framework and clock signal selection can also be embedded in the test patterns. Experimental results are presented to validate the proposed method.

Design of a Virtual Automatic Test System of the Missile Autopilot

To improve the test speed and efficiency, a virtual automatic test system of missile autopilot is designed. The inbuilt computer is used as the core of the system; the modularization instrument bus standard which composed of the PXI card, the programmable instrument and other advanced test techniques is adopted. The automation test device hardware facility is used in the virtual automatic test system; the pilot mechanism fault analysis software is developed, so the faults of the missile autopilot can be located faster and more accurate. The virtual automatic test system can be used to test the current parameters, special capability and the function of the electronic parts among the missile weapon system.

Programmable Leakage Test and Binning for TSVs With Self-Timed Timing Control

Leakage tests have been a challenge for through-silicon vias (TSVs) in a 3-D IC. Most existing methods are still inadequate in terms of the range of testable leakage currents. In this paper, we borrow the wisdom of the IO-pin leakage test while enhancing it with two features. First, we make it more suitable for a TSV, which has a much smaller capacitance than an IO pin. Second, we support a wide range of leakage test (e.g., from 0.125 μA to 16 μA), and thereby allowing for flexible test threshold setting and leakage characterization. To achieve this goal, we present two sets of techniques-1) wait-time generation by programmable delay line, and 2) wait-time propagation with a self-timed timing control scheme to overcome the timing skew problem due to signal routing. We demonstrate that the entire scheme can be done in only logic gates, making it easy to integrate into the common design flow.

A Multiaxis Programmable Robot for the Study of Multibody Spine Biomechanics Using a Real-Time Trajectory Path Modification Force and Displacement Control Strategy

Robotic testing offers potential advantages over conventional methods including coordinated control of multiple degrees of freedom (DOF) and enhanced fidelity that to date have not been fully utilized. Previous robotic efforts in spine biomechanics have largely been limited to pure displacement control methods and slow quasi-static hybrid control approaches incorporating only one motion segment unit (MSU). The ability to program and selectively direct single or multibody spinal end loads in real-time would represent a significant step forward in the application of robotic testing methods. The current paper describes the development of a custom programmable robotic testing system and application of a novel force control algorithm. A custom robotic testing system with a single 4 DOF serial manipulator was fabricated and assembled. Feedback via position encoders and a six-axis load sensor were established to develop, program, and evaluate control capabilities. A calibration correction scheme was employed to account for changes in load sensor orientation and determination of spinal loads. A real-time force control algorithm was implemented that employed a real-time trajectory path modification feature of the controller. Pilot tests applied 3 Nm pure bending moments to a human cadaveric C2–T1 specimen in flexion and extension to assess the ability to control spinal end loads, and to compare the resulting motion response to previously published data. Stable accurate position control was achieved to within ±2 times the encoder resolution for each axis. Stable control of spinal end body forces was maintained to within a maximum error of 6.3 N in flexion. Sagittal flexibility data recorded from rostral and caudally placed six-axis load sensors were in good agreement, indicating a pure moment loading condition. Individual MSU rotations were consistent with previously reported data from nonrobotic protocols. The force control algorithm required 5–10 path iterations before converging to programmed end body forces within a targeted tolerance. Commercially available components were integrated to create a fully programmable custom 4 DOF gantry robot. Individual actuator performance was assessed. A real-time force control algorithm based on trajectory path modification was developed and implemented. Within a reasonable number of programmed path iterations, good control of spinal end body forces and moments, as well as a motion response consistent with previous reported data, were obtained throughout a full physiologic flexion-extension range of motion in the human subaxial cervical spine.

Development of Scalable and Low-Cost Polymer Solar Cell Test Platform

The main advantage of organic or polymer solar cells is their compatibility with conventional printing and coating techniques, making them highly cost-effective and suitable for large scale manufacturing. This work describes a simple, scalable, low-cost platform designed to test polymer solar cell devices. Custom built instrumentation and software were developed to analyze the current–voltage characteristics and quantum efficiency (QE) of the solar cells. The test set-up is modular and can be adapted to test solar cells under varying atmospheres (inert and ambient). The solar energy source comprises of an Oriel 91160 300 W class C solar simulator with air mass (AM) 1.5 G filter for spectral shaping and solar intensity variation between 1 and 3 suns. Custom software developed using labview allows for testing to be carried out at high speeds reproducibly with minimal operator intervention. Software-controlled timer functionality allows programmable testing of solar cells over durations ranging from seconds to days, allowing for the evaluation of solar cell operational lifetimes. The facile design of the test set-up presented here provides an opportunity for different laboratories to set-up similar systems and tweak them for performing a host of photovoltaic measurements.

Motion Compensation Associated With Single-Level Cervical Fusion: Where Does the Lost Motion Go?

Seven adult human cadaveric cervical spines (C2-T1) were biomechanically tested in a programmable testing device. Compare the effects of incremental single-level fusion at different levels of the cervical spine. Clinical studies have reported degenerative symptomatic disc disease at disc levels adjacent to fusion. No known study has attempted to delineate the effects of single-level fusion at different levels of the cervical spine. The spines were tested in flexion, extension, right and left lateral bending, and right and left axial rotation for 7 different conditions: harvested and 6 independent single-level fused conditions (i.e., C2-C3, C3-C4, C4-C5, C5-C6, C6-C7, and C7-T1). Segmental motion and global stiffness data were normalized to the harvested condition and compared using a 1-way analysis of variance followed by a SNK test (P < 0.01). Motion compensation was distributed among the unfused segments with significant compensation at the segments adjacent to fusion. Significant increases occurred at the level above C3-C4 and C4-C5 fusions, and below for C5-C6 and C6-C7 fusions in both flexion and extension. Increase motion compensation occurred at segments immediately adjacent to a single-level fusion. Significant differences occurred at the level above the fusion site for the C3-C4 and C4-C5 fusion in both flexion and extension. When the lower levels (C5-C6, C6-C7) were fused, a significant amount of increased motion was observed at the levels immediately above and below the fusion. However, greater compensation occurred at the inferior segments than the superior segments for the lower level fusions (C5-C6, C6-C7).

On the effectiveness of the test-first approach to programming

Test-driven development (TDD) is based on formalizing a piece of functionality as a test, implementing the functionality such that the test passes, and iterating the process. This paper describes a controlled experiment for evaluating an important aspect of TDD: in TDD, programmers write functional tests before the corresponding implementation code. The experiment was conducted with undergraduate students. While the experiment group applied a test-first strategy, the control group applied a more conventional development technique, writing tests after the implementation. Both groups followed an incremental process, adding new features one at a time and regression testing them. We found that test-first students on average wrote more tests and, in turn, students who wrote more tests tended to be more productive. We also observed that the minimum quality increased linearly with the number of programmer tests, independent of the development strategy employed.

In vitro biomechanics of cervical disc arthroplasty with the ProDisc-C total disc implant

An in vitro biomechanical study was conducted to compare the effects of disc arthroplasty and anterior cervical fusion on cervical spine biomechanics in a multilevel human cadaveric model. Three spine conditions were studied: harvested, single-level cervical disc arthroplasty, and single-level fusion. A programmable testing apparatus was used that replicated physiological flexion/extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. Measurements included vertebral motion, applied load, and bending moments. Relative rotations at the superior, treated, and inferior motion segment units (MSUs) were normalized with respect to the overall rotation of those three MSUs and compared using a one-way analysis of variance with Student-Newman-Keuls test (p < 0.05). Simulated fusion decreased motion across the treated site relative to the harvested and disc arthroplasty conditions. The reduced motion at the treated site was compensated at the adjacent segments by an increase in motion. For all modes of testing, use of an artificial disc prosthesis did not alter the motion patterns at either the instrumented level or adjacent segments compared with the harvested condition, except in extension.

An improved biomechanical testing protocol for evaluating spinal arthroplasty and motion preservation devices in a multilevel human cadaveric cervical model

An experimental study was performed to determine the biomechanical end-mounting configurations that replicate in vivo physiological motion of the cervical spine in a multiple-level human cadaveric model. The vertebral motion response for the modified testing protocol was compared to in vivo motion data and traditional pure-moment testing methods. Biomechanical tests were performed on fresh human cadaveric cervical spines (C2-T1) mounted in a programmable testing apparatus. Three different end-mounting conditions were studied: pinned-pinned, pinned-fixed, and translational/pinned-fixed. The motion response of the individual segmental vertebral rotations was statistically compared using one-way analysis of variance and Student-Newman-Keuls tests (p < 0.05 unless otherwise stated) to determine differences in the motion responses for different testing methods. A translational/pinned-fixed mounting configuration induced a bending-moment distribution across the cervical spine, resulting in a motion response that closely matched the in vivo case. In contrast, application of pure-moment loading did not reproduce the physiological response and is less suitable for studying disc arthroplasty and nonfusion devices.

Justifying the Use of a Bespoke Management System for Experimental Research on Programmable Test Beds

It is the belief of our research group that the use of a bespoke management system with programmable routers makes experimental evaluation of router software more accessible to network researchers. This paper justifies the need for such a system, and that the results that can be obtained using it are valid. Additionally, case studies are presented that will allow us to show experimentally that our system does in fact deliver the functionality outlined in previous work.