Summary: No Engineer Wants Test Instrumentation
An anecdote that was often told by an executive from a tool company began like this: “Last year, my company sold more than two million 6mm drill bits. None of my clients wanted them. What they wanted was 6mm holes.” Similarly, test engineers need to know if their device is behaving as expected. Test instrumentation is simply the tool to get you to find out. But like the drill bit, every test tool that's “mute” on the bench makes it harder for engineers to do their job properly. Streamline your test bench and push the limits of instrumentation by applying shared intelligence that enables automatic data recording, and quickly and easily getting support for questions and concerns.
Can everyone see my screen?
The basic test bench is made up of power supplies and function generators in the generation part, along with digital multimeters and oscilloscopes in the measurement part. They are the foundation of electrical engineering education and measurement, but they are not intelligent by themselves. In a smart workbench, each test set is connected to one another and uses remote learning, lab, and smart instrument bench software to communicate, eliminate mundane tasks, simplify complex configurations, and facilitate remote collaboration.
An engineer must manually set up, measure, record, and analyze isolated test equipment results. In each of these processes failures and inconsistencies can and do occur. But many parts of these processes do not add any new value to the work the engineer must do. They are predictable, recurring or routine.
Smart function generators and power supplies communicate their status and settings to smart multimeters and oscilloscopes without compromising any creative or innovative element of testing. Smart multimeters and oscilloscopes weave your data together providing useful and relevant information.
Smart benchtop instrumentation software captures every configuration and data acquired from every piece of equipment with the push of a button. No smart test bed should be an island and no team member should have to work alone. The test group needs to have visibility into every configuration, screen, and measurement; whether it is in person or if its access is remote.
Physical access to instrumentation becomes virtual access thanks to remote smart bench learning software. Institutions and companies need to optimize the availability of instrumentation and maximize the time of use. Smart benchtops that communicate their status automatically and integrate with the entire lab with smart benchtop lab software enable fast, informed decisions by taking the guesswork out of lab managers.
This session is being recorded
Real-time connection and sharing is not enough. An intelligent test bench automatically stores, analyzes, and synthesizes data from test equipment and transforms it to help complete the work of test engineers and the lab manager. The engineer's job is to know that the device is doing exactly what it should. This is equally valid for students, hobbyists, and professionals. The data from the first tests can help in the following tests, but the data that is not captured and stored will not be useful later.
Each test suite has sources and receivers. Smart bench instrument software enables smart multimeters and oscilloscopes, receiving devices, to automatically send captured data along with the settings of their sending devices to the cloud. The software analyzes historical data from the entire test suite, which resides in the cloud, and automatically compares it against known standard tests, custom sequences, and previous measurements. The work of the person in charge of the laboratory is different but equally supported by the intelligent bench laboratory software. A complete and detailed history of all the equipment in the laboratory, from the last year or last semester, provides relevant information on use, assignments, and activity time that allows to achieve better performances. Out of calibration or outdated equipment worsens results and creates confusion in learning.
The large-scale view of the status of all equipment in the laboratory allows the laboratory manager to predict out-of-date or calibration problems instead of having to react to them. The lab manager uses historical data from the smart bench lab software to justify new equipment purchases when it's time to expand. Documentation is a necessary evil for engineers and lab managers. Smart Bench Instrumentation Software and Smart Bench Lab Software eliminate this tedious task by providing comprehensive tables, graphs, and reports in a repeatable and professional manner. Reusable training plans map directly to specific test setups. Standard report formats improve analysis consistency and simplify data scoring or review.
Answers to questions in chat
A smart dyno is only as smart as its user's ability to activate its potential. Intuitive interfaces and well-planned software go a long way in harnessing the power of a smart bank. But no artificial intelligence can anticipate all circumstances. The solution goes through dedicated support, by experts, for students, engineers, and laboratory managers, who can answer your questions regardless of your level of experience. To quote an old saying: "If you think support is expensive, try ignorance."
Optional support often ends up with too many users without the answers they need when they need them. Expert support draws on decades of experience and offers the best source of information for the smart benchmark: the people who designed the instrument and built its software. If your test bench instrumentation is “silent” from support, it's time to get a new smart bench.
Next slide please
If the job you have to do is to cut down a large forest, when should you stop to sharpen your axe? You cannot afford to ignore a test bed full of outdated or disconnected instrumentation that is perpetually “mute”. Competent test engineers and students can find a way to fix the job manually. But the price to pay is lost time, unnoticed errors, and higher total costs. “Silent” test instrumentation cannot keep up with top universities, competitors, or the long-term demands of their students or customers. It's time to sharpen your axe.
