Acquisition decision factors and the Resource Adapter Information Framework element

A decision by the Department of Defense (DoD) to recommend the use of the Resource Adapter Information (RAI) Framework element in Automatic Test Systems (ATS) acquisition will involve a combination of factors, decisions, and program requirements. Significant work in the last few years has produced a definition and helped to clarify the requirement for RAI. The IEEE Std. 1641 Standard for Signal and Test Definition committee is moving forward to include an annex defining RAI. The IEEE Std. 1671 Automatic Test Markup Language (ATML) also supports RAI and its potential implementations. Ongoing work in demonstrating the RAI technical merit and implementation viability is producing results that will help ensure its inclusion in future DoD ATS. At the same time, costs related to maintenance and operational requirements of weapon systems are important factors in selecting recommended DoD Framework elements and their employment in ATS requirements at acquisition.