Integration and Test (I&T)
…The forgotten subteam
Kevin Killian, Coach
Pascack ONEERS, Team [email protected]
Which subteam does these tasks?
Builds and maintains the practice field
Follows the weight budget Conducts drive team selection Decides who gets the working chassis on a day-to-day basis
Balances driver practice vs. programming on the live robot
Integration and Test in R&D Organizations - Aerospace
For aerospace product development, I&T is a separate group Results must be trusted by product team and customers (and regulatory agencies)
Used to find defects early in the design process
Sets pace of project by scheduling test “gates”
Runs customer acceptance/verification testing
For programming, I&T tests sub-modules and integrates software with hardware
Integration and Test in R&D Organizations - Science
Typical entry-level job in an R&D lab: conduct testing and collect & analyze data
For scientific research, creating test and measurement equipment is often the hardest part of the job
Roles of I&T
Manage interfaces between assemblies and between subteams
Manage Assets Test assemblies and components Perform compliance testing Track development schedule Manage budgets Perform system test
Manage Interfaces
This is the integration part Examples of interfaces
Software and chosen hardware Electronics and the components they drive
Mounting of electronics Perform compatibility testing (try out a prototype)
Prioritize modularity/modification ease
Manage Assets
The robot-in-process Driver testing and practice Software development Hardware integration onto the chassis
The field Manipulator prototyping Driver practice Field construction and maintenance
And….
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
The new control system
Wiring Bench Testing
Electrical Programming
Installation into the robot Making the chassis work vs. additional programming development
Test Assemblies and Components Create test specifications and test plans
Build test equipment Conduct tests prior to integration of the components or assemblies
Examples of component or assembly-level tests Camera discrimination before camera mounting Sensor effectiveness before sensor mounting Bench testing of manipulator/scoring/collecting device
Incoming testing of motors, belts, chain, etc Find design errors or defects early
Perform Compliance Testing
Can be from sub-component level to complete system level
Test Physical characteristics (size, weight)
Test Performance characteristics (ball shooter velocity)
Manage Budgets
Weight Power Possibly height, width, length Control Board Ports and modules
Buttons on operator panel
Perform System Test
Write test specifications Write test plan Build simulated field Schedule testing Schedule game practice (Beta Testing)
Choose Tournament operators (drive team)
Who should be assigned to I&T?
A strong, respected team member to enforce the development schedule
A few good math & science students Geometric analyses Physics computations (ball trajectory)
Members who may not work on robot fabrication, but would enjoy field construction
Members who can create and conduct measurements and tests Detail-oriented Analytical
2006 Assembly/Component-Level tests
Camera accuracy – measured vs. computed angle to green light in 2 dimensions
Conveyor speed and capacity Turret and tilt “lock-on” to green light
Ball shooter velocity
Let’s Brainstorm: 2009 Testing
Assembly-level testing? Component testing? System testing? Other Suggestions?
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