03-19-2013 12:52 AM
I have developed a test equipment to test a unit which manages three power supplies and a dc electric load. These power supplies and load are controlled pragmatically by LabVIEW through R232 interface. There are five voltage and current sensors, and sixteen power relays inside the unit. Each sensors and relays operation has to be checked for the proper functioning in the system for the given command from the system(PXI) .PXI system consist of serial add -on cards and NI PXI-6229 for discrete I/Os connected to the test unit with a interface unit.inputs to UUT are serial/discrete inputs(from relay drivers). This bench level test is achieved through LabVIEW programs with simple VI’s and sub VI’s and built in drivers.
Now the requirement of the consumer goes to the next level. The above mentioned test has to be automated fully. By clicking one button the whole test has to be performed automatically in a prescribed sequence test and verify each parameter in the test case and display the result and has to written into a document report.
For example
Source /Load and VI Checks (Commands through Serial Link)
Source/load |
Commands |
Parameter |
Expected value |
Obtained value |
|||
Channel 1 |
Channel 2 |
channel 3 |
Channel 4 |
||||
Alternator-2 |
55F0020000F2CC |
Voltage: 24V |
0x7F ± 0x0E |
0x |
0x |
0x |
0x |
Current: 5A |
0x1A ± 0x04 |
0x |
0x |
0x |
0x |
||
Battery-1 |
55F0040000F4CC |
Voltage: 32V |
0xAA ± 0x12 |
0x |
0x |
0x |
0x |
Current: 10A |
0x35 ± 0x06 |
0x |
0x |
0x |
0x |
||
Battery-2 |
55F0080000F8CC |
Voltage: 32V |
0xAA ± 0x12 |
0x |
0x |
0x |
0x |
Current: 10A |
0x35 ± 0x06 |
0x |
0x |
0x |
0x |
Hardwired Checks
Parameter
|
Connector Pin for command |
Expected Value |
GPCC/DT |
RFCC |
||
Channel 1 |
Channel 2 |
channel 3 |
Channel 4 |
|||
Battery 1 – ON |
Pin 1 of J2 |
0xF0 |
0x |
0x |
0x |
0x |
Battery 2 – ON |
Pin 2 of J2 |
0xF0 |
0x |
0x |
0x |
0x |
Battery Charging – ON |
Pin 4 of J2 |
0xF0 |
0x |
0x |
0x |
0x |
to start the automation of above mentioned application I searched for the tutorial and found NI teststand is suitable for this. I'm still confused about which NI application software to use and how to start them. So please help me in this and guide me how to start an basic automation.
03-19-2013 04:14 AM
TestStand is meant for these sort of automation requirements only.
TestStand can reuse the VI's you have already developed to call the tests and automate it.
You can install TestStand ( trail version) to try it out.
There are examples for TestStand - Labview interface examples.