US 8,798,972 B2 · Apparatus and method for virtual assembly, integration and testing of an integrated system

Abstract

An apparatus for testing a subsystem of a plurality of subsystems capable of being assembled to form an integrated system may include an integration stand for testing the subsystem without actual physical assembly of the plurality of subsystems which form the integrated system. The integration stand may include an interface to connect the subsystem to the integration stand for testing. The integration stand may also include a network device for connecting the integration stand to a communications network for communications between the subsystem and any other subsystems of the plurality of subsystems available via the network. In this way, the subsystem and the other subsystems may be virtually assembled and integrated to virtually form the integrated system for interoperability of the subsystems and testing without actual physical assembly of the plurality of subsystems. The integration stand may also include a simulation unit to simulate any other subsystems forming the integrated system, which are unavailable via the communications network, to virtually form the integrated system for testing the subsystem connected to the interface of the integration stand.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An apparatus for testing a subsystem of a plurality of subsystems for assembly to form an integrated system, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of integration stands, each integration stand of the plurality of integration stands for testing at least one of the plurality of subsystems without actual physical assembly of the plurality of subsystems which form the integrated system, each integration stand of the plurality of integration stands comprising:
an interface to connect the subsystem to the integration stand for testing;
a network device for connecting the integration stand to a communications network for communications between the subsystem and at least one available subsystem of the plurality of subsystems that is available via the network to virtually assemble and integrate the subsystem and the at least one available subsystem to virtually form the integrated system for interoperability of the subsystems and testing without actual physical assembly of the plurality of subsystems;
and
a simulation unit, the simulation unit simulating at least one unavailable subsystem forming the integrated system to virtually form the integrated system for testing the subsystem connected to the interface of the integration stand in response to the at least one unavailable subsystem not being available via the communications network.

2 more elements

A system for concurrently testing a plurality of subsystems for forming an integrated system without actual physical assembly of the integrated system, the system comprising:

a plurality of geographically distributed integration stands, each integration stand of the plurality of integration stands for testing an associated subsystem without requiring actual physical assembly of the plurality of subsystems, each integration stand comprising:
an interface to connect the associated subsystem to the integration stand for testing;
a network device for connecting the integration stand to a communications network for communications between the subsystem and at least one available subsystem of the plurality of subsystems that is available via the network to virtually assemble and integrate the subsystem and the at least one available subsystem to virtually form the integrated system for interoperability of the subsystems and testing without actual physical assembly of the plurality of subsystems;
and
a simulation unit, the simulation unit simulating at least one unavailable subsystem forming the integrated system to virtually form the integrated system for testing the subsystem connected to the interface of the integration stand in response to the at least one unavailable subsystem not being available via the communications network;
and
a central station for overall control and coordination of each of the integration stands.

4 more elements

A method for testing a subsystem of a plurality of subsystems for assembly to form an integrated system, the method comprising:

enabling connection of the subsystem under test to a communications network for communications between the subsystem under test and any other subsystems of the plurality of subsystems available via the network to virtually assemble and integrate the subsystem and the other available subsystems to virtually form the integrated system for interoperability of the subsystems and testing without actual physical assembly of the plurality of subsystems, wherein the integrated system comprises a vehicle;
and
simulating at least one unavailable subsystem forming the integrated system to virtually form the integrated system for testing the subsystem in response to the at least one unavailable subsystem not being available via the communications network, wherein each subsystem is connected to one of a plurality, of integration stands, each integration stand comprising a simulation unit for simulating the at least one unavailable subsystem in response to the at least one unavailable subsystem not be being available via the communications network.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for virtual assembly, integration and testing of an integrated system

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for virtual assembly, integration and testing of an integrated system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21