1. DoD Automatic Test Systems (ATS) Strategies
JTEG Forum on
“Automation in Maintenance”
24 April 2018
Bill Ross (NAVAIR PMA260 Support)

2. Automatic Test Systems or ATS
Complex electronic test and diagnostics equipment
Diagnose a failure and verify the repair
Used for factory acceptance and at all levels of maintenance
Hundreds of different types in DoD inventory and tens of thousands of weapon system application specific test programs
Here’s some general background.
Automatic Test Systems are computer controlled testers that are used at all levels of maintenance. Most of what we’ll discuss here revolves around the I and D levels. There are some O-level automatic testers, but they are generally small suitcase testers and are not as important to TOC as are the bigger, more expensive and more complex testers used at I and D levels.

3. What is an ATS for Electronics Systems?+
TPS Dev. Environment +
TPS
ATE =
ATS
UUT
ATS = Automatic Test System
ATE = Automatic Test Equip.
TPS = Test Program Set
UUT = Unit Under Test

4. DoD ATS Inventory 1990s – over 600 Types
You can see from the pictures that these testers are expensive and complex, and require considerable skills to operate. This is why DoD spent the $50 billion from 1980 to 1992 on ATS. Here is what the money was spent on.

5. In 1994, OSD established the DoD ATS Executive Directorate
The DoD ATS Problem
ATS
The 600 different types of ATS in the 90’s had similar capability and purpose
We paid for similar designs multiple times
Unique labor skills are required to operate, maintain and support each ATS
Had no interoperability among the different ATS types
ATS did/does not leverage available valuable diagnostic data
An Office Secretary of Defense (OSD) study revealed that $51B was invested by DoD on ATS from 1980 – 1992
Etc.
In 1994, OSD established the DoD ATS Executive Directorate
To better manage ATS across the Services

6. DoD ATS ED Role Has Evolved Over Time
1995 – 2005
Focused on: STRUCTURING, POLICIES, and PROCEDURES
Got the ATS Proliferation under better control
2004 – 2015
Focused on: TEST TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS and MATURITY
Designated DoD ATS Standard families of ATS
2016 – And On
PERFORMING and COOPERATION 6

7. DoD ATS Executive Directorate (ED)
Two Primary Organizational Elements
DoD ATS Management Board or AMB
Senior ATS leader from each Service
Joint Services Integrated Product Teams or IPTs
Service members interested in the IPT topic

8. DoD ATS ED Joint Services IPTs
ATS Framework
IPT
Define and manage a standard DoD ATS Framework (open architecture)
NxTest
IPT
Assess and demonstrate emerging ATE test technologies
TPS
IPT
Optimize TPS acquisition and sustainment
Cyber Security
IPT
Jointly address ATS Cyber Security challenges
ATS
Processes
Address overarching DoD ATS processes

9. DoD ATS Framework IPT
ATS
Objective -- Define the “Key Interface Elements” needed to effect:
Interoperability
Reduce life cycle costs
Reduce logistics footprint
Improve the quality of test
ATS Framework currently identifies 25 Key Interface Elements
Working with industry standards bodies to develop and mature needed standards that define the Elements
Currently focused on the standards that support PHM data transfer and TPSs .

10. DoD NxTest IPT
ATS
Objective – Assess, demonstrate, and plan implementation of emerging test technologies
To meet current and future weapon system mission requirements
Each months hold a test technology Industry Week
Next scheduled for October 2018
Current test technology focus areas:
Net Centric functions – PHM
Addressing High Speed Buss
EO test capability
RF test capability
FPGA initiatives
Addressing Anti-Tamper and Cyber Security requirements
Increasing TPS throughput initiatives

11. DoD ATS Standardization
Then -- over 600 different types
Now -- one type per service
Standard DoD ATS Families
ATS proliferation is now under control
Service’s ATS looks different outside (operational differences) but much the same inside

12. DoD ATS Families Naval Aviation - CASS FoT
Ground Marines – TETS and VIPERT Family
F-35 - LM-STAR family
Army – NGATS Family
Air Force – VDATS Family 12

13. Key Accomplishments
ATS
A Joint Services organizational structure put in place
Established DoD and Service ATS non-proliferation policies
Managed the ATS proliferation problem
Designated DoD Standard ATS Families
Each Service managing the modernize of their Standard ATS Family
Define a Technical Open System Framework for ATS
24 Key Interface Elements selected
Some Key Elements defined with Standards
Coordinated and leveraged test technology investments
Jointly demonstrated the current generation of ATS

14. Joint ATS Way Forward
ATS
Continue to work to stay ahead of emerging weapon system test requirements
Address capability gaps in our test systems
Coordinate closely with the test industry
Continue to look for opportunities to leverage Service test technology investments and for common implementations across the Services maintenance environments
At a test system level or sub-system/instrument level
Continue to develop ATS tools based on the ATS Framework standards
Focus area -- working to improved big data and data analytics functions with ATS
Establishing a joint Services ATS PHM Working Group

15. Weapon System Real Time & Historical Data
ATS Interfaces -- As Is
ATS Data
ATS
ATS Data Analytics
Weapon System Real Time & Historical Data
Std Laptop
PEMA
Weapon System Data Analytics
TPS Smart Application
Test
Instrument
Capability
UUT Models
ALE, Maintenance Systems
Capability
Data
TPS TPs
UUT
Induction
Requirements
Data
ATE Capability Model (SSM)
TPS Development Tools
ATS Planning Tool
Green lines = IEEE format
Weapon System Related
ATS Related
ATE Workload Model

16. ATS Digital Data Transfer/Analytics Improvements (notional)
ATS Data
ATS
ATS Data Analytics
Weapon System Real Time & Historical Data
Std Laptop
Test Results, Run Times
PEMA
“SMART” Diagnostics
GiG
Switches
Weapon System Data Analytics
TPS Smart Application
Test
Instrument
Capability
UUT Models
ALE, Maintenance Systems
Capability
Data
TPS TPs
UUT
Induction
Requirements
Data
Run Times
ATE Capability Model (SSM)
Flight Hours
Failure Rates
Requirements
Data
TPS Development Tools
UUT/Station Mapping Data
UUT/Station Mapping Data
ATS Planning Tool
Green lines = IEEE format
Weapon System Related
ATS Related
ATE Workload Model

17. Questions?