Total Quality Systems (TQS), a business division of AES, has successfully bid and is presently conducting SBIR research to develop an innovative method of facilitating remote testing of equipment where automatic test equipment (ATE) and the unit under test (UUT) can be physically separated by thousands of miles.

Current test technology requires the use of ATE that is geographically co-located with the UUT due to limitations in signal propagation and data exchange requirements. As new generation digital avionics become more prevalent, interface requirements become more suitable for direct connection to computers and the Internet. The operating environment for remote test and diagnosis of aircraft avionics and other devices becomes more feasible as network centric operations become more prevalent throughout the DoD.

The prototype system will use components identical to or actual copies of ATE and UUT, and current network and Internet technologies. An incremental approach is planned, first demonstrating remote control of ATE/UUT before geographically separating ATE from UUTs.

The prototype system will be built to mimic where possible, the DoD's network structure and protocols. Further collaboration technologies such as email notification and instant messaging between field technicians and depot engineers are also planned to be prototyped.

Expected benefits of this project are a decreased logistic footprint for deployments by reducing the amount and size of ATE deployed, and improved depot engineering expertise available to the war-fighters at deployed Air Expeditionary Forces (AEF) sites and other Air Force bases.