TEST SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE COORDINATED EXECUTION OF A TEST

Abstract

The present invention relates to testing a control unit of a system. To improve and simplify testing of a system's control unit, the invention relates to a test system (100) comprising a management server (101), which is configured to provide predefined test instructions, a control system (103), and a plurality of output units (107). The control system is configured to convert the test instructions provided by the management server into service instructions for setting a test configuration on a system's control unit using predefined assignment logic. The control system is further configured to segment service instructions for setting the test configuration into partial instructions for setting a partial configuration on the control unit, and to distribute these partial instructions chronologically and / or logically.Respective output units of the plurality of output units are configured to deliver at output the partial instructions communicated by the control system.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a test system for testing a control unit of a system, and a method for testing a control unit of a system. CONTEXT OF THE INVENTION During the manufacturing of a system, for example an aircraft, it is necessary to carry out tests on a control unit of the system in order to guarantee the functionality of the control unit. Many adjustment operations are required, particularly with complex systems, for example an aircraft cockpit, to test or verify all cockpit configurations or functions. By requiring technicians to manually or automatically identify and adjust the respective control elements for setting the corresponding configurations, a control process for such a system takes a lot of time. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, there is a need for further improvement and acceleration of the operating procedure for testing control units. The object of the invention is realized by the objects of the independent claims; additional embodiments are found in the dependent claims. The present invention relates to a test system for testing a control unit of a system. The test system includes a management server configured to provide predefined test instructions. The test system further includes a control system configured to convert the test instructions provided by the management server into service instructions for setting a test configuration on a control unit of a system using predefined assignment logic. The control system is further configured to The system segments the service instructions for setting the test configuration into partial instructions for setting a partial configuration on the control unit, and distributes these partial instructions chronologically and / or logically, thus coordinating them with each other chronologically and / or logically. Furthermore, the control system is configured to communicate the partial instructions to a plurality of output units according to their chronological and / or logical distribution. The test system also includes a plurality of output units. According to the invention, respective output units of the plurality of output units are configured to indicate the partial instructions communicated by the control system, enabling a plurality of technicians to perform a chronologically and / or logically coordinated adjustment of the test configuration on the system's control unit. The term "test instruction" refers to operations, i.e. chronological and / or logical sequences intended to set at least one test configuration on a control unit. The term "test configuration" refers to a concrete configuration, i.e., a concrete 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 "service instruction" refers to tasks intended to perform an adjustment of respective control elements of a control unit. The term "partial instruction" refers to a portion of a service instruction that is intended to be delivered on a respective output unit. The term "assignment logic" refers to instructions designed to transform test instructions into service instructions. Assignment logic contains, for example, instructions to transform or convert test instructions into service instructions, with the service instructions including indications for recognizing at least one control element by means of which a corresponding test configuration is established. one of the test instructions is to be set on a control unit. Setting a test configuration on a control unit is performed, for example, to verify a function of the control unit and / or a function of a system controlled by the control unit in response to the setting of the test configuration. To verify a system and / or a test configuration, the test system includes, in one example, a system interface that is configured to set the system according to predefined partial instructions from the management server, detect a system state, and communicate the detected system state to the management server. The management server is further configured to verify the test configuration set on the control unit using the system state detected through the system interface, for example, by comparing the system state detected by the system interface with a predefined system setpoint state for the set test configuration. In one example according to the invention, respective output units of the plurality of output units comprise at least one sensor and one processor, the processor being configured to detect the execution of a setting operation by a technician assigned to a respective output unit and / or by a robot assigned to the respective output unit using at least one sensor, to record it and to report it to the control system. In one example, service instructions include information for guidance on the control unit and / or instructions for using at least one control element of the control unit. In another example, at least some of the plurality of output units is implemented in the form of digital glasses. Furthermore, according to the invention, some of the partial instructions corresponding to the service instructions include control instructions that configure the respective output units to recognize on the control unit the control elements corresponding to the test configuration and to mark them in a coordinated chronological and / or logical manner. In one example, the control system is configured to automatically segment service instructions dynamically based on output units and / or free robots into a plurality of partial instructions and automatically and dynamically distribute the plurality of partial instructions to output units and / or robots based on the respective specifications of the output units and / or robots. In another example, the control system is configured to segment service instructions according to predefined chronological and / or logical indications into a plurality of partial instructions. In one example, the test system includes at least one user interface. This user interface can be configured to receive information transmitted by the output unit and / or the management server as an intermediate station and deliver and / or edit it on an output unit. Using a user interface, a technician can monitor and possibly modify a test that is carried out automatically or semi-automatically using the test system. The invention further relates to a method for testing a control unit of a system using a test system. The method comprises the following steps: a) Provision of predefined test instructions by a management server; b) Conversion of test instructions provided by the management server into service instructions for setting a test configuration on a control unit of a system using assignment logic predefined by a control system; c) Distribution of service instructions into chronological and / or logical partial instructions; d) Communication of partial instructions to a plurality of output units according to the chronological and / or logical distribution carried out in step c); d) Setting the test configuration on the control unit according to predefined test instructions by the management server via the output unit. According to one example, the process also includes the following steps: e) Detection and transmission of a system state to the management server via a system interface, in response to the setting of the test configuration on the control unit; f) Verification of the test configuration set on the control unit using the system status detected through the system interface by the management server. The present invention is particularly useful for the coordinated provision of output units with service instructions for executing test instructions on a system. A control unit is provided for this purpose, which divides the test instructions into partial instructions and communicates them to the respective output units in a coordinated chronological and / or logical manner, i.e., mutually coordinated chronologically and / or logically. To divide the predefined test instructions into partial instructions, the control unit can employ a predefined scheme or perform dynamic assignment or distribution based on a current state and / or the properties of the respective output units. These and other aspects of the present invention will become evident by referring to and alluding to the explanations described below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Examples of embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the following drawings. In the drawings, identical features are identified by the same reference numerals. Figure 1 illustrates a schematic representation of an example of a test system. Figure 2 illustrates a schematic representation of a example of a test system equipped with a plurality of output units. Figure 3 illustrates a schematic representation of an example of a test system comprising a system interface and a user interface. Figure 4 illustrates a schematic representation of a partial instruction broadcast using an output unit. Figure 5 illustrates a schematic representation of an example of a method for testing a control unit of a system using an example of a test system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FORMS OF IMPLEMENTATION Figure 1 represents a test system 100 comprising a management server 101 which is in communicative link with a control system 103, as suggested by arrow 105. The management server 101 can be connected to the control system 103 via a wired or wireless communication interface, for example. Test instructions, such as so-called "ground test" instructions, are provided to the management server 101 by a source, such as a database or a technician. Test instructions may include, for example, information about the order in which and the parameters with which given control elements on a control unit 109 of a system 111, in this case an aircraft, should be set for a respective test configuration. The management server 101 communicates to the control system 103 the test instructions respectively provided by the source. The control system 103 converts the test instructions communicated by the management server 101 into service instructions in order to configure control elements on the control unit 109 according to the test configuration. To do this, the control system uses a predefined assignment logic and assigns service instructions corresponding to the respective test instructions. It can be provided, for example, that the control system 103 assigns a service instruction to a test instruction "turn on the control unit." This service instruction includes a control instruction, which has the effect of configuring an output unit 107, which can be implemented in the form of digital glasses, for example, to recognize and mark a control element by means of which the control unit 109 is to be turned on—that is, to display it highlighted in color, for example. Consequently, a technician using the output unit 107 can quickly recognize the control element as such and set it according to the service instructions, which are, for example, displayed on the output unit 107 as additional information. The control system 103 can communicate with the output unit 107 via a wired or wireless communication link, as suggested by arrow 113. Figure 2 represents a test system 200. The test system 200 is based on the test system 100, but also includes an output unit 115 and a robot 117. The use of a plurality of output units 107, 115 allows the control system 103 to be configured to coordinate different service instructions between the respective output units 107, 115 and execution instances, such as the robot 117, i.e. segment the respective service instructions chronologically and / or logically into partial instructions for the respective output units 107, 115 or the robot 117 and communicate the respective partial instructions, mutually agreed chronologically and / or logically, to the respective output units 107, 115 or to the robot 117, as suggested by arrow 121.To do this, it may be provided that the respective partial instructions of a service instruction are distributed according to a given sequence on the output units 107, 115 or the robot 117 by the control system 103, so that the technicians who use the output units 107, 115 and possibly the robot 117, 115 set up together, and also in a mutually agreed manner chronologically and / or logically, one or more test configurations. on control unit 109. In order to mutually coordinate the respective partial instructions for the output units 107, 115, or the robot 117, the control system 103 can assign service instructions to the output units 107, 115, or the robot 117 according to a predefined scheme. Alternatively, the control system 103 can dynamically allocate or distribute the service instructions to the output units 107, 115, or the robot 117, for example, based on the current availability and / or the respective properties of the output units 107, 115, or the robot 117.To do this, the control system 103 can use, for example, a list of the properties of the technician who uses the output units 107, 115 or of the respective properties of the output units 107, 115 used by the technicians and of the properties of the robot 117, in which are recorded properties, for example the tools that can be used, the range and / or a state of the technician who uses the output units 107, 115. The service instructions and corresponding partial instructions may include, for example, control instructions intended for guidance when setting up a test configuration on the control unit 109. This means that the service instructions may include, for example, information about a form and / or function of the respective control element. The service instructions may further include, for example, information about the position, for example the coordinates in a coordinate system in space, at which a respective control element is located on the control unit 109, or in what position a control element is to be set according to a respective test configuration. The operating instructions may also include information about a digital model of the control unit 109 and / or the system 111, for example. It may therefore be possible, for instance, to compare environmental information acquired by means of a sensor not shown here with the digital model in order to recognize and adjust the respective control elements. The 200 test system is used in particular to verify an aircraft during a ground test after final assembly and to reduce the verification steps to be carried out manually by one or more technicians. For example, output units 107 and 115, and robot 117, exchange information via wireless and / or wired communication interfaces. This allows output units 107 and 115, and robot 117, to synchronize chronologically and / or logically with each other. Figure 3 represents a test system 300. The test system 300 is based on the test system 100 and additionally includes a system interface 201 and a user interface 301. The system interface 201 is implemented here as part of the management server 101. However, the system interface 201 can also be implemented as a separate part or as part of the control system 103. System interface 201 is in communicative link with aircraft 111, as suggested by arrow 203. To do this, system interface 201 can exchange data with aircraft 111 either wired or wirelessly. The system interface 201 is used, for example, to adjust and / or detect a state on aircraft 111. To do this, the system interface can access controllers of aircraft 111, for example. The 201 system interface can be implemented, for example, in the form of what is called a "digital equipment simulator". To verify a respective test configuration set on the control unit 109, the system interface 201 can set a predefined state on the aircraft 111 and / or read a current state of the aircraft 111 and communicate it to the management server 101. Using the information about the state of the aircraft 111 communicated to the management server 101, the management server 101 can compare the current test configuration of the control unit 109, which could, for example, be a control panel or a "cockpit" of the aircraft 111, with the state of aircraft 111 and thus verify a function of the test configuration currently set on the control unit 109. System interface 201 allows detection of an interaction between aircraft 111 and control unit 109. The user interface 301 can be implemented, for example, as a mobile computer or a desktop system. Naturally, the user interface 301 can also be integrated into the management server 101 or the control system 103. The user interface 301 can be in wired or wireless communication with the output unit 107, as suggested by arrow 303. A communication link between user interface 301 and output unit 107 allows, using user interface 301, to present to a user, for example a technician, and / or for the user to modify a current state, for example a current service instruction assigned to output unit 107. A communication link between user interface 301 and management server 101 allows a user, for example a technician, to be presented with and / or the user to modify a current test instruction using user interface 301. In addition, a communication link between user interface 301 and management server 101 allows representation and / or editing of aircraft state 111 using system interface 210. A communication link between the user interface 301 and the control system 103 allows a user, for example a technician, to be presented with, and / or the user to modify, by means of the user interface 301, the conversions made by the control system 103 of test instructions into service instructions and / or the assignments made by the control system 103 of the respective partial instructions to the respective output units 107. The 301 user interface can be in communicative communication with a plurality of test systems or a plurality of output units and / or a plurality of management servers and / or a plurality of control systems in order to enable a user to centrally monitor and / or control a plurality of test procedures for a plurality of systems, for example. Figure 4 illustrates a schematic representation of the broadcast of partial instructions via an output unit from a technician's perspective. This means that the scene shown in Figure 4 is displayed on the output unit. To achieve this, the output unit captures a real-world scene—namely, cockpit 400—using a sensor and displays it on the output unit. Information about the control elements that, according to the respective operating instructions, need to be set or read is superimposed on the sensor information on the output unit. In the example shown in Figure 4, control elements 401, 403, and 405 are highlighted, with each highlighted in a different color. In one example, control elements 401 are represented as a partial instruction on the first output unit, control elements 403 as a partial instruction on the second output unit, and control elements 405 as a partial instruction on the third output unit. In these cases, control elements 401 on the first output unit can be represented chronologically before control elements 405 on the third output unit, so that a technician using the first output unit will set control elements 401 first, and a technician using the third output unit will set control elements 405 afterward.Therefore, the technician using the first output unit 401 and the technician using the third output unit 405 act in a perfectly timed sequence and perform a complex control operation that is impossible for a single technician, for example. For example, the control elements 405 on the third output unit are only shown highlighted or marked after the control elements 401 have been set by the technician operating the first output unit accordingly to its respective partial instructions. To achieve this, a control system that communicates partial instructions to output units can be configured, for example, to transmit the respective partial instructions intended for the corresponding output unit only when a previous step, according to a predefined sequence, has been confirmed. The control system can request confirmation accordingly via a system interface or receive it back from a corresponding output unit. In one example, a service instruction or a partial instruction executed by a technician or a robot can be detected by means of a sensor included in the output unit and reported back to a communication partner, for example the control system. In addition, the control system can coordinate additional service instructions based on a corresponding feedback signal from an output unit. Figure 5 illustrates an example of a method 500 for testing a system control unit using a test system. The method 500 comprises the following steps: In a first step 501, also designated as step a), a predefined test instruction is provided by a management server. In a second step 503, also designated as step b), the test instructions provided by the management server are converted into service instructions for setting a test configuration on a control unit of a system using assignment logic predefined by a control system. In a third step 505, also designated as step c), the service instructions are divided into chronological and / or logical partial instructions. In a fourth step 507, also designated as step d), the partial instructions are communicated to a plurality of output units according to the chronological and / or logical distribution carried out in step c). In an optional fifth step 509, also designated by step e), a system state is detected and transmitted to the management server via a system interface in response to the setting of the test configuration on the control unit. In an optional sixth step 511, also designated as step f), the test configuration set on the control unit is checked by the management server using the system state detected through the system interface. In another aspect, the invention relates to a computer program element for controlling a test system, as described above, and a computer-readable medium, for example a CD-ROM or a USB flash drive, on which the program element is stored. The computer program element can be distributed on a suitable medium, for example a hard drive, for example in conjunction with hardware components or in other forms, for example via the Internet or other wired or wireless communication protocols. The computer program element can also be loaded into a processor's working memory, for example in a computer network, and executed there to implement the process described above. Attention is drawn to the fact that embodiments of the invention are described with reference to different objects. In particular, some embodiments are described with reference to the claims of the method, while other embodiments are described with reference to the claims of the device. Those skilled in the art in the technical field will, however, recognize in the description mentioned above and the following that, unless otherwise stated, any combination of features relating to the different objects is also considered to be disclosed in this application in addition to the respective combination of features of an object. All features can, however, be combined with one another and thus offer synergistic effects that are greater than a simple addition of the features. Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the figures and this description, such illustration and Such descriptions are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the published embodiments. Other variations of the published embodiments can be understood and carried out by those skilled in the art by studying the figures, the publication, and the independent claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude any other element or step, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude plurality. A single unit device or another unit may perform the functions of different objects mentioned in the claims. The mere fact that certain steps are cited again in mutually exclusive dependent claims does not mean that a combination of these steps cannot be advantageously used. The respective reference characters in the claims are not to be considered a restriction of the scope of protection.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A test system (100, 200, 300) for testing a control unit of a system, the test system comprising: - a management server (101), configured to provide predefined test instructions; - a control system (103), configured to convert the test instructions provided by the management server into service instructions for setting a test configuration of a control unit (109) of a system (111) using a predefined assignment logic, * the control system being further configured to segment the operating instructions for setting the test configuration into partial instructions for setting a partial configuration of the control unit and to distribute the partial instructions chronologically and / or logically and thus coordinate them with each other chronologically and / or logically, the control system being further configured to communicate the partial instructions to a plurality of output units according to their chronological and / or logical distribution; - a plurality of output units (107, 115) of which respective output units are configured to indicate the partial instructions communicated by the control system in order to allow a plurality of technicians to carry out a chronologically and / or logically coordinated adjustment between them, of the test configuration on the control unit of the system.

2. Test system according to claim 1, respective output units of the plurality of output units comprise at least one sensor and a processor, the processor being configured to detect the execution of an adjustment operation by a technician assigned to the respective output unit and / or by a robot assigned to the respective output unit using the sensor, to record it and to report it to the control system.

3. The testing system of claim 1 or 2, the control system being further configured to communicate at most a portion of the partial instructions to at least one robot and to communicate the remaining portion of the partial instructions to the plurality of output units.

4. Test system according to one of the preceding claims, the test system comprising a system interface (201), - adjust the system according to test instructions predefined by the management server, - detecting a system status and communicating the detected system status to the configured management server to verify the set test configuration of the control unit using the detected system status via the system interface.

5. Test system according to one of the preceding claims, the operating instructions comprise information for orientation on the control unit and / or instructions for operating at least one control element of the control unit.

6. Test system according to one of the preceding claims, - at least a portion of the plurality of output units are implemented in the form of digital glasses, and - some of the partial instructions corresponding to the operating instructions comprising control instructions which configure the respective output units to recognize on the control unit the control elements corresponding to the test configuration and to mark them in a chronologically and / or logically coordinated manner.

7. Test system according to one of claims 1 to 6, the control system is configured to segment the service instructions according to predefined chronological and / or logical indications into a plurality of partial instructions.

8. Test system according to one of claims 1 to 6, the control system is configured to automatically segment the service instructions dynamically based on the output units and / or free robots, into a plurality of partial instructions and automatically and dynamically distributing the plurality of partial instructions to the output units and / or robots according to the respective specifications of the output units and / or robots.

9. Test system according to one of the preceding claims, - the operating instructions include information regarding the chronological and / or logical execution of control operations to set the test configuration on the control unit.

10. Test system according to one of the preceding claims, - the control unit is a control panel of an aircraft in the cockpit.

11. Test system according to one of the preceding claims, the testing system comprises at least one user interface (301), configured to receive the information transmitted by the plurality of output units and / or the management server as an intermediate station and to deliver and / or edit it by an output unit.

12. Method for testing a control unit of a system by means of a test system, comprising the following steps: (a) Provision of predefined test instructions by a management server; (b) Conversion of test instructions provided by the management server into service instructions for setting a test configuration on a control unit of a system using assignment logic predefined by a control system; (c) Division of service instructions into chronological and / or logical partial instructions; d) Communication of the partial instructions to a plurality of output units according to the chronological and / or logical distribution carried out in step c).

13. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising the following steps: (e) Detection and transmission of a system status to the management server via a system interface, in response to the setting of the test configuration of the control unit; 1) Verification of the set test configuration of the control unit using the system status detected by the system interface by the management server.

14. A computer program element for controlling a test system according to one of claims 1 to 11 which, executed by a processor unit, is configured to perform the method steps of claims 12 to 13.

15. A computer-readable medium on which the program element of claim 14 is recorded.

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