EFFICIENT FUNCTIONAL TESTING OF FLIGHT ATTENDANT PANELS - Vector Informatik
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Panel Systems testing
EFFICIENT FUNCTIONAL
TESTING OF FLIGHT
ATTENDANT PANELS
Verification of Flight Attendant Panels (FAPs)
requires an interdisciplinary approach. TestPlant
and Vector have combined their domain tools for
efficient testing of the entire system
// SEBASTIAN MEZGER AND MINGZHI DENG
E
ver since Flight Attendant Panels pose new challenges to the development
(FAPs) were first introduced in the process. Trends such as extending
Airbus A320 series, the number of functionality by adding new software
checking and monitoring functions which components or flexibly adapting the user
they control has grown regularly (Figure 1). interface can further increase this
Improved touchscreen technologies are complexity. Consequently, the test phase
continually making the human-machine is assuming growing importance in the
interface more efficient and convenient. development of user interfaces.
In modern aircraft, the crew uses FAPs to To properly address this increasing
control and monitor many cabin functions, importance, it is necessary to validate
among them lighting, announcements, functions in the early phases of
door status indication, smoke detection development. Often the target hardware
and temperatures. The units are also used is still unavailable or at least incomplete
for functions relevant to maintenance, for by the time testing needs to start.
instance to add entries to the digital cabin
logbook used to log faults. Furthermore,
Frequently, the validation must be
performed in a purely virtualized
“The challenge
the FAP indicates safety information such
as smoke detection or emergency signals.
environment or on an isolated subsystem
using remaining bus simulation.
is to design fap
Easy, efficient and reliable operation of
FAPs with graphic user interfaces plays an
Desirable user interfaces are
characterized by visualizing the underlying systems to be
important role in the airlines’ satisfaction
with the units.
cabin applications in a way that is both
clear and easy to understand – despite as smart as
Quality assurance measures must be
adapted to meet the increasing prevalence
of software-based user interfaces. Complex
their complexity – and by offering intuitive
and simple operation (usability). The
challenge is to design FAP systems to be as
smartphones”
logic must be applied, especially in the smart as smartphones. This leads to highly
operation of embedded systems, which responsive touch-based infotainment user
1
68 SHOWCASE 2018 \\ AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM
Panel Systems testing
1 // Flight Attendant
Panels, an essential part
of modern aircraft, need
reliable quality assurance
and testing before aircraft
test flights begin
AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM // SHOWCASE 2018 69
Panel Systems testing
2
interfaces with a broad range of functions, mouse inputs. KVM switches are typically 2 // The FAP serves as a explicitly designed to be an open
and these must also be validated. The located on the hardware level to implement central control and display environment, and it offers numerous
customer always expects the FAPs to show the same functionality in transmitting element for a wide variety interfaces for linking to external programs
of cabin functions
state-of-the-art technology in its operating input and output information. This makes (Figure 2). These include Vector’s own
concept and supported periphery. The it unnecessary to modify the testing UDP-based Fast Data Exchange (FDX)
units must also lend themselves to reliable software to achieve testability. interface, the Functional Mockup Interface
software updates at regular intervals. In Such a non-invasive approach ensures (FMI) and MATLAB. It is also possible to
turn, these constraints place stringent that changes which would otherwise only integrate external DLLs. The latter is used
requirements on testing that should be be performed to test the software do not to link eggPlant Functional to CANoe.
repeatable, automatable and maintainable. have any effects on the actual test. Any eggPlant Functional offers access to
ECUs can be checked using this approach, external applications over an XML-RPC
INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH because remote control mechanisms now interface (Extensible Markup Language
To satisfy these requirements, an exist in all commonly used operating Remote Procedure Call); this is executed
interdisciplinary approach is needed that systems (Android, iOS, Linux, QNX, by eggDrive in a mode without a graphic
combines the tools from both GUI and ECU VxWorks, Windows, etc.). eggPlant user interface.
testing in order to assure comprehensive Functional is operated as a distributed The interface lets CANoe call functions
verification in all development stages. system, in which the host application and test scripts in eggPlant and read out
eggPlant Functional, the software from with test flow control is executed on a individual (partial) results of the overall
TestPlant for functional GUI tests, enables conventional PC. Only the remote control test report. TestPlant offers an
testing of embedded software applications component is needed at the ECU under implementation in the form of a .NET
via the user interface. This approach test. By using different interfaces, eggPlant assembly for use of the XML-RPC interface.
assures greater testing depth compared to Functional can interact with the systems This makes it possible to link to the
testing on the program code or functional of other test automation suppliers, and has combination of CANoe and vTESTstudio
level. Here, test automation utilizes image been designed to be an open system. (Figure 3). Encapsulation of the necessary
and text recognition algorithms to detect CANoe (oe = open environment) calls in a C# test library and mapping of
switch surfaces and displays. For instance, software from Vector handles the the test results to the CANoe test report
if a surface switch should be activated, its remaining bus simulation for the ECU results in an easy-to-use interface for
position is identified by image recognition, under test and the analysis of bus combining CANoe and eggPlant
and a button push is initiated. Remote parameters. In addition, it provides a test Functional. The test designer creates the
control mechanisms such as Virtual environment that includes a test sequencer ECU tests in a familiar environment such
Network Computing (VNC), Remote and test reporting. The tests themselves as vTESTstudio and accesses the functions
Desktop Protocol (RDP) or Keyboard-Video- are created in the Vector tool vTESTstudio, of eggPlant Functional in the same way as
Mouse (KVM) over IP (Internet Protocol) an authoring tool for editing test flows for the functions of CANoe are accessed.
are used on the system level to transfer embedded systems. Programming
screen contents and initiate user language based methods (CAPL/C#), BENEFITS
interactions. VNC and RDP are protocols spreadsheet-based methods or graphic The integrated approach of Vector and
commonly used in the PC area to transmit test notation and test design methods are TestPlant gives the user a test environment
screen contents as well as keyboard and available for this purpose. CANoe was in which, in addition to the ability to
70 SHOWCASE 2018 \\ AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM
Panel Systems testing
3
stimulate and analyze parameters 3 // CANoe offers an validate daily builds, for example, enabling testing. The test automation tools eggPlant
transmitted over the databus in the open environment with quick responses to any problems in new Functional and CANoe come into play
airplane, the FAP’s graphic user interface various interfaces to software releases. It lends itself to frequent here. With their open interfaces they
third-party tools
can also be monitored and stimulated. software releases and short development represent a simple tool combination that is
From the perspective of the test developer, 4 // Toolchain for cycles and ensures timely reactions to new ideal for such testing. Domain specialists
the level on which the information is integrated functional requirements and constraints. can implement tests in their familiar
GUI testing of a FAP environment and then integrate the tools
accessed does not matter. Similarly, one
advantage of CANoe is that testing is SUMMARY into an overall test suite. This eliminates
performed independently of the bus Software-based embedded systems that the effort involved in creating additional
physics. It is only necessary to interchange are operated via graphic user interfaces tests. It also enables shorter development
the hardware interface to match the bus are becoming increasingly more important cycles with frequent software releases,
system being used. Consequently, the in airplane development. To meet quality and this produces a clear competitive
same models can be used to test the next assurance requirements, it is not only advantage for the aircraft manufacturer
generation of FAPs, even if a different bus necessary to test the individual software and the supplier. \\
system is used. components but also their user interfaces.
Since it is also possible to run existing Therefore, the goal is to verify the Sebastian Mezger is team and project leader
eggPlant Functional test scripts, scripts functionality of the embedded systems with Vector Informatik, and Mingzhi Deng
from the pure user interface test can be completely and reliably in automated is a technical consultant at TestPlant
used again in an integrated functional GUI
test. The tools that the domain specialists
already have and are familiar with can also
be used in a combined application case.
Such an approach increases the depth of
testing or degree of test automation and
ensures in-depth and extensive functional
testing of an ECU, including in cases where
there are frequent software releases. Even
in early development stages, such a test
setup enables validation of an isolated ECU
including the user interface. CANoe is used
to simulate ECUs that communicate with
the ECU under test and do not need to be
present in real form. Functional GUI tests
thereby enable validation with modest
hardware resources at a very early time.
This test setup is also ideally suited for
creating a development environment with
continuous testing. It can be used to
4
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