Test Automation Using NI Platform
WHAT WE DO
ISC provides automated or hybrid test solutions as well as test rig upgrade.
We have helped various clients to develop test systems, from large industrial rotating machines for oil/gas and defence sectors, to consumer products, to novel engines and energy storage devices.
Our chosen development platform is NI’s LabVIEW software and suite of hardware, including cRIO, cDAQ, I/O modules and, where appropriate, Windows machines, given its large collection of drivers and libraries which facilitates connection with various instrumentations such as OPC UA, HTTP/REST, TCP/IP, Modbus, and serial.
Modern industrial systems are becoming increasingly more complex, fast paced, and facing ever more stringent quality demands than manual testing can deliver. Test automation is a key enabler of improved production and can provide a range of benefits, including:
- Integration with Quality Management System (QMS)/ Quality Assurance (QA) – Test automation can support compliance, traceability, and safety certification within QMS frameworks.
- Reduced rework: Automated systems eliminate possible errors in manual test parameter input, measurement and result recording, reducing costly rework.
- Uninterrupted testing - Automated test rigs can run overnight or continuously, increasing test coverage without increasing manpower.
- Repeatability – Tests can be standardised and executed consistently, removing possible errors inherent in manual processes.
- Throughput – Test data and outcomes are logged, with test certificates generated automatically on completion, reducing overall test time.
- Scalability – Automation also aligns well with repetitive, high volume testing and test re-configuration for different device models under tests.
- Cost efficiency over time - While the upfront investment may be significant, automation steadily lowers per-test costs, reduces labor expenses, and delivers compounding savings over time.
However, in practice there is no one size fits all solution and not all aspects of testing need to, or should be, automated. Test automation forms a core framework, not a replacement, freeing teams from routine checks while leaving room for engineers to concentrate on solving more complex problems where human insight, inspection and judgment may be vital. The best strategy will be a balanced approach, that is automating the mundane and well-defined aspects of a testing process, for scale and efficiency, while giving the human operator the means to exercise control where it matters.
