Man portable electro-optic test system (MPETS) development

The man portable electro-optic test system (MPETS) is the next generation of electro-optical (EO) automatic test equipment (ATE). The initial application of MPETS is with the reconfigurable transportable consolidated automated support system (RTCASS) to support existing and emerging test program sets (TPSs). MPETS is being developed with participation from the US Navy, US Marines, US Army and US Air Force. The MPETS system will be capable of testing existing and emerging Infra Red (IR), laser range finder, laser designator, and visible EO sensor systems. MPETS applies an innovative approach of utilizing commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology and recent industry developments to allow MPETS to test emerging technologies being applied in EO units under test (UUTs), in a configuration that is transportable and re-configurable. MPETS design allows EO TPSs that are hosted on CASS to be easily transportable to MPETS. MPETS will apply the standardization of EO testing and drivers being defined under the EO Working Group within the interchangeable virtual instrument (IVI) foundation. The software interface between the MPETS and RTCASS will make use of Automatic Test Markup Language (ATML). MPETS will use IRWindows™ software for implementation of EO tests. IRWindows™ is a commercial software package widely used in industry. MPETS faces the challenge of combining portability with precise measurements of large UUTs; as well as, the challenge of combining transportability of existing TPSs that test older technology UUTs, with emerging TPSs that test advanced technology UUTs. The hardware/software architecture and interfaces of MPETS will make it easily upgradeable to support future EO testing requirements and for applying any future improvements in test technology. An overview of the MPETS program and details of the innovative hardware and software solutions will be discussed.