{"id":15323,"date":"2025-03-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dmcinfo.com\/our-work\/modular-hardware-in-the-loop-systems-with-shared-test-equipment\/"},"modified":"2025-09-29T09:57:55","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T14:57:55","slug":"modular-hardware-in-the-loop-systems-with-shared-test-equipment","status":"publish","type":"our_work","link":"https:\/\/www.dmcinfo.com\/our-work\/modular-hardware-in-the-loop-systems-with-shared-test-equipment\/","title":{"rendered":"Modular Hardware-in-the-loop Systems with Shared Test Equipment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

DMC engaged with this customer through our collaborative partnership with United Electronic Industries (UEI)<\/a> to design and fabricate two HIL systems for different rocket subsystems to support the customer\u2019s flight control software testing needs. To deliver a cost-effective solution, DMC leveraged a modular signal emulation design with a standalone set of shared test equipment, minimizing non-recurring engineering costs and capital expenditures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"United<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Ametek\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Modular Signal Emulation Hardware <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The customer had 15+ signal types that they needed to emulate to fully validate their control software. DMC was able to develop a modular signal emulation system based upon UEI hardware which allowed each signal type to be composed into different HIL configurations based upon the client\u2019s requirements. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Modular<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Shared Test Equipment <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To reduce capital expenditures, DMC designed a set of Shared Test Equipment that was capable of automatically testing both HIL systems, while also maintaining the option for signal count expansion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pickering Interfaces<\/a> was crucial to planning for future signal count expansions. DMC engaged with Pickering Interfaces to select the appropriate switching solution to enable testing the thousands of test points with a single set of test instrumentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pickering<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

DMC also selected instrumentation from Keysight<\/a>, Keithley<\/a>, and Sigilent<\/a> based on the customer\u2019s specific requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shared Test Equipment Software<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A common practice at DMC when designing test systems is to include the capability to perform self-checkout of the system. This provides a way to perform automated periodic checkout of a system throughout its lifespan. For this customer, DMC was asked to fabricate two systems, both of which needed to have the capability for automated self-checkout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DMC developed a RESTful API for the Shared Test Equipment to enable automated control by the customer\u2019s existing test executive software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

DMC was able to design and fabricate modular Hardware-in-the-Loop systems, which were able to meet the customer\u2019s evolving requirements and maintain flexibility for increasing signal counts in each HIL system.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about DMC\u2019s Aerospace and Defense<\/a> expertise and contact us<\/a> for your next project.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DMC engaged with this customer through our collaborative partnership with United Electronic Industries (UEI) to design and fabricate two HIL systems for different rocket subsystems to support the customer\u2019s flight control software testing needs. To deliver a cost-effective solution, DMC leveraged a modular signal emulation design with a standalone set of shared test equipment, minimizing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":15319,"template":"","meta":{"customer":"Blue Origin","summary":"

\"Aerospace<\/p>\r\n

DMC developed and delivered a rocket Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) system to a leading contributor in human spaceflight advancement. The customer's units under test, including propulsion and crew modules, had a large number of diverse signal types that needed to be emulated to test control systems for various subsystems of their rocket. DMC employed a modular design in the designed signal emulation hardware, allowing the composition of two separate HIL systems while minimizing non-recurring engineering (NRE) between both systems. This modular design also allowed DMC to develop a single set of shared test equipment which was flexible enough to test both HIL systems and reduced the customer's capital expenditure.<\/p>\r\n","description":"","customer_benefits":"