Future of Test

One thing that a lot of test engineering companies are doing really well is gathering and analyzing failure data. But in the future the data could be gathered to a central repository and the fault data mined more efficiently, the way some companies data mine for business intelligence. Very likely using some AI techniques to analyze the data. Potentially some type of Neural Net, advanced statistical analysis, and Bayesian mathematics that accepts the failure information and gives the most likely fix. Well, that's what I hope since AI is my hobby. Both test set and Unit Under Tests (UUT) could be analyzed and information about future failures be determined in advanced from current failures.

When a test set or UUT failure occurs the failure information and analysis could be directed to the Test Engineer's pocket PC. He/She would be able to attach to the test set from where ever they are and trouble shoot most problems. Through the remote link some problems would be fixed and some would need to be coordinated with on-site technicians.

As for operating the tests, there could be a central operator planning, scheduling, and controlling all of the tests in a factory. The operator would have the various test screens on his/her screen to interact with the test software. There could be some people on the work floor to make sure everything gets hooked up correctly and the UUT's flow from one manufacture operation to the next.

I do believe wireless and the web will pay a much bigger role in future test. Remote operations will be more common and more advanced failure detection, reporting, and analysis will be the norm.

I also believe that AI will pay a bigger role in test...and not just because it's my hobby.