Future of Test

At work, I've been dealing with innovation, future of test software, and even doing a little bit of real engineering work in my spare time.

With all this I keep wondering, what is the Future of test set? Of test software? How much will change before I retire? When can I retire (different topic)? Also, I was doing an install of some software and had some time to contemplate the future.

I know in the future the Engineers creed of "Smaller, Better, Faster" will be in effect. Also the concept of Cheaper is being pushed really hard. So what will happen in the future.

Smaller is easy. We've seen it happen for years in standards like VME going to VXI and to PXI as well as chassis like the compactRIO. With these different architectures we've also seen faster speeds. So in the next 10 years I'm sure there will be a sub-compactRIO or RIO-micro.

I'm pretty sure distributed systems will be more common. A system where there is a central control and information repository with connections to small "brick" testers that can be put just about anywhere, temperature chambers, remote less access able test area's. There will be wireless connections where possible so that even wires aren't needed. Some type of Ethernet (hardwire or wireless) will connect to the brick and the brick will control and communication with the units under test (UUT). All test results and operator interface will back at the central computer. The central computer will control several different tests at one time.

There will be more embedded test programs in the units under test (UUT), there will be less discrete interfaces. Since UUTs being tested are getting smaller (better faster) too, there will be less area for interfaces. Software expertise will be needed to develop Operational Test Programs (OTPs) to load into units to test them.

With distributed test systems and smaller test sets there will be more "soft" instrument front panels on the display screens and less physical instrument front panels. The soft instrument front panels on the screens would give an image of what the real instrument front panel would look like if it were real. They would control the various instruments manually when it's needed and would minimize when the device isn't being used. Touch screens would be great for this function so that the operator would still "touch" on the interface.

Of course, all this are just some possibilities for the future.