Test system and method for carrying out a test in a coordinated manner

A test system for testing a control unit of a system includes a management server which is configured to provide predefined test instructions, a monitoring system, and a number of output units. The monitoring system is configured to convert test instructions provided by the management server into operating instructions for setting a test configuration on a control unit of a system using predefined assignment logic. The monitoring system is also configured to divide operating instructions for setting the test configuration into partial instructions for setting a partial configuration on the control unit and to temporally and/or logically classify the partial instructions. Respective output units of the number of output units are configured to output the partial instructions transmitted by the monitoring system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a test system for testing a control unit of a system and to a method for testing a control unit of a system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When producing a system, for example an aircraft, it is necessary to test a control unit of the system in order to ensure a functionality of the control unit.

In complex systems in particular, for example a cockpit of an aircraft, numerous setting operations are needed to test or check all configurations or functions of the cockpit.

A test method for such a system is very time-consuming using engineers who must manually or independently identify and set the respective control elements for setting respective configurations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There may therefore be a need to further improve and accelerate a sequence for testing control units.

Aspects of the present invention provides a test system for testing a control unit of a system. The test system comprises a management server which is configured to provide predefined test instructions. The test system also comprises a monitoring system which is configured to convert test instructions provided by the management server into operating instructions for setting a test configuration on a control unit of a system using predefined assignment logic. The monitoring system is also configured to divide operating instructions for setting the test configuration into partial instructions for setting a partial configuration on the control unit and to temporally and/or logically classify the partial instructions and thereby to temporally and/or logically coordinate them with one another. The monitoring system is also configured to transmit the partial instructions to a number of output units according to their temporal and/or logical classification. The test system also comprises a number of output units. Provision is made for respective output units of the number of output units to be configured to output the partial instructions transmitted by the monitoring system in order to make it possible for a number of engineers to set the test configuration on the control unit of the system in a temporally and/or logically coordinated manner.

The term “test instruction” relates to sequences, that is to say temporal and/or logical sequences for setting at least one test configuration on a control unit.

The term “test configuration” relates to a specific configuration, that is to say a specific state of control elements of a control unit or a sequence of different states of control elements of a control unit over time.

The term “operating instruction” relates to information for setting respective control elements of a control unit.

The term “partial instruction” relates to a part of an operating instruction which is provided for output on a respective output unit.

The term “assignment logic” relates to instructions for converting test instructions into operating instructions. For example, assignment logic comprises instructions for converting test instructions into operating instructions, wherein the operating instructions comprise information for identifying at least one control element, by means of which a test configuration corresponding to the test instructions can be set on a control unit.

A test configuration is set on a control unit, for example, in order to check a function of the control unit and/or a function of a system controlled by the control unit in response to the test configuration being set. In order to check a system and/or a test configuration, the test system comprises, in one example, a system interface which is configured to set the system on the basis of test instructions predefined by the management server, to capture a state of the system and to transmit the captured state of the system to the management server. In this case, the management server is also configured to check the test configuration set on the control unit using the state of the system captured by the system interface by comparing the state of the system captured by the system interface with a desired state of the system predefined for the test configuration which has been set, for example.

In one example, provision is made for respective output units of the number of output units to comprise at least one sensor and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to capture performance of a setting operation by an engineer assigned to a respective output unit and/or by a robot assigned to the respective output unit using the at least one sensor, to log it and to report it back to the monitoring system.

In one example, the operating instructions comprise information for orientation on the control unit and/or hints for operating at least one control element of the control unit.

In another example, at least one part of the number of output units is in the form of data glasses. Provision is also made for respective partial instructions corresponding to the operating instructions to comprise control commands which configure the respective output units to identify control elements on the control unit which correspond to the test configuration and to mark them in a temporally and/or logically coordinated manner.

In one example, the monitoring system is configured to automatically dynamically divide the operating instructions into a number of partial instructions on the basis of free output units and/or robots and to automatically and dynamically distribute the number of partial instructions to the output units and/or robots on the basis of respective specifications of the output units and/or robots.

In another example, the monitoring system is configured to divide the operating instructions into a number of partial instructions according to predefined temporal and/or logical information.

In one example, the test system comprises at least one user interface. The at least one user interface can be configured to receive information transmitted by the output unit and/or the management server as an intermediate station and to output it on an output unit and/or to edit it.

A user interface makes it possible for an engineer to monitor and possibly change a test which is running in an automatic or semiautomatic manner and runs using the test system.

An aspect of the invention also provides a method for testing a control unit of a system using a test system. The method comprises the following steps of:

a) providing predefined test instructions by means of a management server;

b) converting the test instructions provided by the management server into operating instructions for setting a test configuration on a control unit of a system using predefined assignment logic by means of a monitoring system;

c) classifying the operating instructions as temporal and/or logical partial instructions;

d) transmitting the partial instructions to a number of output units on the basis of the temporal and/or logical classification carried out in step c);

e) setting the test configuration on the control unit on the basis of test instructions predefined by the management server by means of the output unit.

According to one example, the method also comprises the steps of:

f) capturing and forwarding a state of the system to the management server by means of a system interface in response to the test configuration being set on the control unit;

g) checking the test configuration set on the control unit using the state of the system captured by the system interface by means of the management server.

An aspect of the present invention is used, in particular, to supply output units with operating instructions in a coordinated manner in order to perform test instructions of a test on a system. A monitoring unit is provided for this purpose, which monitoring unit subdivides the test instructions into partial instructions and transmits them to respective output units in a temporally and/or logically coordinated manner, that is to say in a manner temporally and/or logically matched to one another. In order to subdivide the predefined test instructions into the partial instructions, the monitoring unit may use a predefined scheme or may dynamically carry out an allocation or division on the basis of a current state and/or on the basis of properties of respective output units.

These and further aspects of the present invention will become clear with reference to the embodiments described below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a test system100having a management server101which is communicatively connected to a monitoring system103, as indicated by arrow105. The management server101can be connected to the monitoring system103via a wired or a wireless communication interface, for example.

The management server101is provided with test instructions, for example so-called “Ground Testing Instructions”, by a source, for example a database or an engineer. The test instructions may comprise, for example, information relating to which control elements on a control unit109of a system111, of an aircraft in this case, are to be set in which order with which parameters for a respective test configuration.

The management server101transmits those test instructions provided by the source to the monitoring system103.

The monitoring system103converts the test instructions transmitted by the management server101into operating instructions for setting control elements on the control unit109according to the test configuration. For this purpose, the monitoring system uses predefined assignment logic and assigns corresponding operating instructions to respective test instructions.

For example, provision may be made for the monitoring system103to assign, to a test instruction “switch on control unit”, an operating instruction which comprises a control command which causes an output unit107, which may be in the form of data glasses for example, to be configured to identify and mark, that is to say to display, in a manner highlighted in colour for example, a control element which is to be used to switch on the control unit109. Accordingly, an engineer using the output unit107can quickly identify the control element as such and can set it according to the operating instructions which, for example, are displayed as additional information on the output unit107.

The monitoring system103can communicate with the output unit107via a wired or a wireless communication connection, as indicated by arrow113.

FIG. 2shows a test system200. The test system200is based on the test system100, but additionally comprises an output unit115and a robot117.

When using a multiplicity of output units107,115, the monitoring system103can be configured to coordinate different operating instructions between respective output units107,115and execution entities, such as the robot117, that is to say to temporally and/or logically divide respective operating instructions into partial instructions for respective output units107,115and the robot117and to transmit the respective partial instructions to the respective output units107,115and the robot117in a manner temporally and/or logically matched to one another, as indicated by arrows121. For this purpose, provision may be made for respective partial instructions of an operating instruction to be divided among the output units107,115and the robot117by the monitoring system103in a sequence, with the result that engineers using the output units107,115and possibly the robot117set one or more test configurations on the control unit109together and in a manner temporally and/or logically matched to one another.

Each of output units107and115comprises a sensor123and a processor125.

In order to match respective partial instructions for respective output units107,115and for the robot117to one another, the monitoring system103can assign the operating instructions to the output units107,115and to the robot117according to a predefined scheme. Alternatively, the monitoring system103can dynamically divide or distribute the operating instructions among the output units107,115and the robot117, for example on the basis of a current availability and/or respective properties of the output units107,115or of the robot117. For this purpose, the monitoring system103may use, for example, a list of properties of the engineers using the output units107,115or of respective properties of engineers using the output units107,115and of properties of the robot117, in which properties, for example usable tools, a range and/or a status of the engineers using the output units107,115are stored.

For example, operating instructions and corresponding partial instructions may comprise control commands for orientation when setting a test configuration on the control unit109. This means that the operating instructions can comprise, for example, information relating to a form and/or a function of a respective control element.

The operating instructions may also comprise, for example, information relating to the position at which, for example the coordinate in a spatial coordinate system at which, a respective control element can be found on the control unit109and relating to the position at which a control element should be set according to a respective test configuration.

The operating instructions may also comprise, for example, information relating to a digital model of the control unit109and/or of the system111. Accordingly, provision may be made, for example, for information relating to an environment captured by means of a sensor (not illustrated here) to be compared with the digital model in order to identify and set respective control elements.

The test system200is used, in particular, to check an aircraft in a ground test after final manufacture and to reduce checking steps to be manually carried out by one or more engineers.

In one example, provision may be made for the output units107,115and the robot117to interchange information with one another via wireless communication interfaces and/or wired communication interfaces. Accordingly, the output units107,115and the robot117can be temporally and/or logically synchronized with one another.

FIG. 3shows a test system300. The test system300is based on the test system100and additionally comprises a system interface201and a user interface301. In this case, the system interface201is configured as part of the management server101. However, the system interface201can also be configured as a separate unit or as part of the monitoring system103.

The system interface201is communicatively connected to the aircraft111, as indicated by arrow203. For this purpose, the system interface201can interchange data with the aircraft111in a wired or wireless manner.

For example, the system interface201is used to set and/or capture a state on the aircraft111. For this purpose, the system interface can access control devices of the aircraft111, for example.

The system interface201can be in the form of a so-called “digital equipment simulator”, for example.

In order to check a respective test configuration set on the control unit109, the system interface201can set a predefined state on the aircraft111and/or can read a current state of the aircraft111and can transmit it to the management server101. On the basis of information relating to a state of the aircraft111transmitted to the management server101, the management server101can compare the current test configuration of the control unit109, which may be a control panel or a “cockpit” of the aircraft111for example, with the state of the aircraft111and can thereby check a function of the test configuration currently set on the control unit109.

The system interface201can be used to capture interaction between the aircraft111and the control unit109.

The user interface301may be in the form of a mobile computing unit or a stationary system, for example. It goes without saying that the user interface301may also be integrated in the management server101or the monitoring system103.

The user interface301may be communicatively connected to the output unit107in a wired or wireless manner, as indicated by arrow303.

As a result of a communication connection between the user interface301and the output unit107, a current state, for example an operating instruction currently assigned to the output unit107, can be displayed to a user, for example an engineer, and/or can be edited by the user using the user interface301.

As a result of a communication connection between the user interface301and the management server101, a current test instruction can be displayed to a user, for example an engineer, and/or can be edited by the user using the user interface301.

Furthermore, as a result of a communication connection between the user interface301and the management server101, a state of the aircraft111can be displayed and/or edited using the system interface201.

As a result of a communication connection between the user interface301and the monitoring system103, conversions of test instructions into operating instructions, which are carried out by the monitoring system103, and/or assignments of respective partial instructions to respective output units107, which are carried out by the monitoring system103, can be displayed to a user, for example an engineer, and/or can be edited by the user using the user interface301.

The user interface301can be communicatively connected to a multiplicity of test systems or a multiplicity of output units and/or a multiplicity of management servers and/or a multiplicity of monitoring systems in order to make it possible for a user to centrally monitor and/or control a multiplicity of test procedures for a multiplicity of systems, for example.

FIG. 4shows a schematic illustration of an output of partial instructions by means of an output unit from the perspective of an engineer. This means that the scene illustrated inFIG. 4is displayed on the output unit. For this purpose, the output unit captures an actual scene, that is to say the cockpit400, by means of a sensor and displays the scene on an output unit. Information which, according to respective operating instructions, relate to control elements which are intended to be set or read is displayed on the output unit in a manner superimposed on the information recorded using the sensor. In the example illustrated inFIG. 4, the control elements401,403and405are illustrated in a highlighted manner, in which case the control elements401,403and405are each highlighted in different colours.

In one example, the control elements401are displayed as a partial instruction on a first output unit, the control elements403are displayed as a partial instruction on a second output unit and the control elements405are displayed as a partial instruction on a third output unit. In this case, the control elements401can be displayed on the first output unit temporally before the control elements405on the third output unit, with the result that an engineer using the first output unit will first of all set the control elements401and an engineer using the third output unit will temporally subsequently set the control elements405. Accordingly, the engineer using the first output unit401and the engineer using the third output unit405act in a temporally exactly matched sequence and execute a complex control operation which is not possible for an individual engineer, for example.

In one example, provision is made for the control elements405to be displayed in a highlighted manner or marked on the third output unit only or only when the control elements401have been set by the engineer using the first output unit according to his respective partial instructions. For this purpose, a monitoring system which transmits the partial instructions to the output units may be configured, for example, to transmit respective partial instructions for respective output units only when a respectively preceding step according to a predefined sequence has been confirmed. The monitoring system can request a corresponding confirmation by means of a system interface or can receive it as feedback from a respective output unit.

In one example, an operating instruction or partial instruction performed by an engineer or by a robot can be captured by means of a sensor included in an output unit and can be fed back to a communication partner, for example the monitoring system.

Provision may also be made for the monitoring system to coordinate further operating instructions on the basis of respective feedback from an output unit.

FIG. 5shows an example of a method500for testing a control unit of a system using a test system. The method500comprises the following steps:

In a first step501, also referred to as step a), a predefined test instruction is provided by a management server.

In a second step503, also referred to as step b), the test instructions provided by the management server are converted into operating instructions for setting a test configuration on a control unit of a system using predefined assignment logic by means of a monitoring system.

In a third step505, also referred to as step c), the operating instructions are classified as temporal and/or logical partial instructions.

In a fourth step507, also referred to as step d), the partial instructions are transmitted to a number of output units on the basis of the temporal and/logical classification performed in step c).

In an optional fifth step509, also referred to as step e), a state of the system is captured and is forwarded to the management server by means of a system interface in response to the test configuration being set on the control unit.

In an optional sixth step511, also referred to as step f), the test configuration set on the control unit is checked by the management server using the state of the system captured by the system interface.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a computer program element for controlling a test system, as described above, and to a computer-readable medium, for example a CD-ROM or a USB stick, on which the program element is stored. The computer program element can be distributed on a suitable medium, for example a read-only memory, for example together with hardware elements or in other forms, for example via the Internet or other wired or wireless communication protocols.

Furthermore, the computer program element can be loaded into a main memory of a processor in a computer network, for example, and can be executed in order to carry out the method described above.

It is pointed out that embodiments of the invention are described with respect to different subjects. In particular, some embodiments are described with respect to the method claims, while other embodiments are described with respect to the apparatus claims. However, a person skilled in the art in the technical field will gather from the description mentioned above and below that, unless noted otherwise, in addition to any combination of the features of one subject, any combination of the features which relate to different subjects is also considered to be disclosed in this application. However, all features can be combined with one another and thereby provide synergistic effects which are more than a simple summation of the features.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the figures and the above description, such an illustration and description should be considered for illustration purposes or exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not restricted to the embodiments disclosed. Further variations of the embodiments disclosed can be understood and effected by a person skilled in the art in the technical field by studying the figures, the disclosure and the dependent claims.

In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude any other elements or steps and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a multiplicity. A single apparatus or other unit can perform the functions of different subjects mentioned in the claims. The mere fact that particular steps are recited in mutually exclusive dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these steps cannot be advantageously used. Any reference signs in the claims are not to be regarded as a limitation of the scope of protection.