AGUTER a platform for automated generation of user acceptance tests from requirements specifications

PurposeThis article proposes a strategy to make the testing step easier, generating user acceptance tests (UATs) in an automatic way from requirements artifacts.Design/methodology/approachThis strategy is based on two modeling frameworks: scenarios and task/method paradigm. Scenarios are a requirement artifact used to describe business processes and requirements, and task/method paradigm is a modeling paradigm coming from the artificial intelligence field. The proposed strategy is composed of four steps. In the first step, scenarios are described through a semantic wiki website. Then scenarios are automatically translated into a task/method model (step two). In the third step, the task/method model obtained in step two is executed in order to produce and store all possible achievements of tasks and thus scenarios. The stored achievements are saved in a data structure called execution tree (ET). Finally, from this ET (step four), the UATs are generated.FindingsThe feasibility of this strategy is shown through a case study coming from the agriculture production systems field.Originality/valueGenerally, test design approaches deal with a small number of variables describing one specific situation where a decision table or workflow is used to design tests. The proposed approach can deal with many variables because the authors rely on scenarios that can be composed in order to obtain a tree with all the testing paths that can arise from their description.

Fast testing platform for the isolation transformer

This work shows a program created in a Labview environment to verify the correct functioning and regulatory compliance of isolation transformers and isolation transformers for medical use. The transformer tests will be divided into acceptance tests and type tests. For each type of test, the program will be able to provide information for correct testing and to speed up the test path.The guided test procedure will accompany the author up to the automatic printing of the test reports. Finally, considerations will be made on which tests to perform on already installed transformers that require recertification.

Обеспечение испытаний бортовых блоков управления стартерами-генераторами

There are described the results of the creation by the developer of the on-board equipment – JSC "Element" – improved specialized test equipment for checking the parameters of the on-board control units of DC starter-generators – a stand-simulator of the starter-generator. The previously developed version improvement was carried out to increase the tests automatization because of preparation for control units' serial production stage. In addition, during the improvement process, the list of simulated starter-generators has been expanded, namely, to the starter-generators produced in France (THALES), Russia (STG9M-1, STG-3), and Ukraine (8260-12UD, 8260-9UD, STG-150UD) for the AI-450M engine and its modifications (with which the BZG-450 unit worked, providing control of start-up and generation) the STG-12TMO-1000 starter-generator was added. This STG-12TMO-1000 works with the AI-25TLT engine, for which Element JSC is currently developing an SGU-25 unit for control of start-up and generation. Stand-simulator improvement was based on an additional experimental study of the interaction between mentioned control units and real objects. The interaction was studied during the test process on the engine stand and aircraft of the State Enterprise "Ivchenko-Progress" and JSC "Motor Sich". The results achieved are shown. There are shown the structural diagram of improved stand-simulator and working screen of specialized software installed on a personal computer and providing the operator with the ability to control the test process. A list of simulated analog and frequency signals with ranges and errors indication is given. In addition to the stand-simulator description, attention is also paid to the quality checking method of the installation of printed circuit boards of control units by thermography means under electrical load and comparison with a specially prepared reference picture of temperature distribution. The need for such especially careful control during acceptance tests is due to the level of flowing currents – up to 20 A.

Design and In-orbit Demonstration of REGULUS, an Iodine electric propulsion system

REGULUS is an Iodine-based electric propulsion system. It has been designed and manufactured at the Italian company Technology for Propulsion and Innovation SpA (T4i). REGULUS integrates the Magnetically Enhanced Plasma Thruster (MEPT) and its subsystems, namely electronics, fluidic, and thermo-structural in a volume of 1.5 U. The mass envelope is 2.5 kg, including propellant. REGULUS targets CubeSat platforms larger than 6 U and CubeSat carriers. A thrust T = 0.60 mN and a specific impulse Isp = 600 s are achieved with an input power of P = 50 W; the nominal total impulse is Itot = 3000 Ns. REGULUS has been integrated on-board of the UniSat-7 satellite and its In-orbit Demonstration (IoD) is currently ongoing. The principal topics addressed in this work are: (i) design of REGULUS, (ii) comparison of the propulsive performance obtained operating the MEPT with different propellants, namely Xenon and Iodine, (iii) qualification and acceptance tests, (iv) plume analysis, (v) the IoD.

Improvement of mooring tests of main engine running to fixed pitch propeller

The most important stage in vessel’s construction is acceptance tests. By testing the main power plant of the vessel the design solutions adopted to ensure stable operation of the main engine and the propeller are checked. Such a check of the main engine according to design characteristics at the quay wall can significantly reduce sea trials cost. In practice, the peculiarities of the propeller operation at zero free-flow velocity at the quay wall limit the operating modes of the main power plant and the possibilities of mooring tests. There are considered the traditional and innovative simulation methods and tools used in mooring tests. The methods allow unloading the engine in terms of torque bringing its operation mode closer to the design parameters. An urgent scientific and technical problem has been solved to reduce the mechanical stress of the main engine, which operates according to the mooring characteristic on a fixed pitch propeller. The factors influencing the value of the resistance moment of the propeller at a zero vector of the incident flow are determined. Possible directions for improving the acceptance tests of the main power plant by supplying an additional environment, i.e. air to the suction surface of the propeller blade, are substantiated. In the complex of computational fluid dynamics, a computational model of a fixed pitch propeller has been created. The amount of air required to change the propeller operating mode has been estimated. Resistance moment of the propeller for various methods of air supply to the propeller has been analyzed. Additional means of controlling the main engine operating mode at the stages of the ship's life cycle are proposed.

Tcs evolution of CICC during Testing

139 conductors were manufactured for the magnetic system of the ITER toroidal field coils in total by 6 different teams based on 5 different suppliers of Nb3Sn wires. Despite the fact that all conductors and superconducting wires were manufactured according to the same criteria, there were some differences in the manufacturing technologies of the components themselves, and in the result of the acceptance tests. Samples of some of the conductors passed acceptance tests, where the dependence of Tcs on the number of cycles of inputting the operating current into the samples when they were in a magnetic field was determined. The results of these tests showed that there are not only quantitative, but also qualitative differences in the Tcs (N) dependence. These differences are also observed within the same supplier. It would be useful to understand which parameters most strongly contribute to Tcs (N) in order to possibly improve this characteristic. For this purpose, the article provides a statistical analysis of the test results of 49 samples of conductors. The results are being discussed.

Tcs evolution of CICC during Testing

139 conductors were manufactured for the magnetic system of the ITER toroidal field coils in total by 6 different teams based on 5 different suppliers of Nb3Sn wires. Despite the fact that all conductors and superconducting wires were manufactured according to the same criteria, there were some differences in the manufacturing technologies of the components themselves, and in the result of the acceptance tests. Samples of some of the conductors passed acceptance tests, where the dependence of Tcs on the number of cycles of inputting the operating current into the samples when they were in a magnetic field was determined. The results of these tests showed that there are not only quantitative, but also qualitative differences in the Tcs (N) dependence. These differences are also observed within the same supplier. It would be useful to understand which parameters most strongly contribute to Tcs (N) in order to possibly improve this characteristic. For this purpose, the article provides a statistical analysis of the test results of 49 samples of conductors. The results are being discussed.