The Automated Test Blog

As I stated in my last blog, I’m planning to discuss one trend per blog entry over the next few weeks. The second trend in Test and Measurement is:

Growth of Software-Defined Instrumentation

One issue facing test engineers is that test instrumentation is not updated as rapidly as the devices being tested. The functionality of these complex devices is being defined by the software embedded in them, such as the Apple iPhone, which gives design engineers the ability to add features faster than ever before. This is increasingly challenging for many test engineers because most stand-alone instruments often lack the measurement capabilities of the most recent standards due to the fixed user interface and firmware that must be developed and embedded in them.
Thus, test engineers are turning to a software-defined approach to instrumentation which gives them the ability to quickly customize their measurement algorithms and user interfaces to meet specific application needs and integrate testing directly into the design process, further reducing development time. PXI is the example of a widely used software-defined instrumentation standard for building modular, reconfigurable high-performance automated test systems.

Kiran Unni, Frost & Sullivan Measurement & Instrumentation research manager, recently confirmed that PXI is influencing this trend when she stated, “The adoption of tools such as PXI is an indicator that companies recognize the benefits of moving toward software-defined instruments. The savings being realized in capital equipment, system development and improvements in system efficiency all contribute to reducing the per-unit cost of test, directly influencing the bottom line.”