GPATS PXIe Insert Kit for TETS and VIPER/T

Abstract

The Program Manager, Supply and Maintenance Systems (PM SMS), along with the Electronics Software Calibration Test (ESCT) Division of Marine Depot Maintenance Command, execute the engineering support and development for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) General Purpose Automatic Test System (GPATS). The GPATS provides Intermediate and Depot level test capabilities for multiple communication and ground weapon systems. It utilizes commercial VXI analog instruments from several vendors; all are obsolete with no VXI replacements available. These include the digital multi-meter, counter/timer, digital storage oscilloscope, and arbitrary waveform generator. Most commercial vendors no longer produce or support the aforementioned VXI analog instruments. They only produce them utilizing PXI or PXIe bus architecture. PXI and PXIe instruments have the same physical form, and neither is directly compatible with a VXI chassis. There are three USMC GPATS configurations in use today. They are the Third Echelon Test System (TETS) and two variants of Virtual Instrument Portable Equipment Repair/Tester (VIPER/T). They incorporate Digital Test Systems (DTSs), Analog Instruments, High/Medium/Low Frequency Switching, and Programmable Power Supplies. All three GPATS have obsolete VXI analog instruments. The USMC GPATS DTS variant is also obsolete, but there are Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) VXI DTS replacements available. There is still a need for VXI based DTSs, as moving to a PXI or PXIe DTS results in a 50% reduction of channels per card. Reducing total available channels or channels per card may result in a follow-on cost to rewrite the Test Program Sets that utilize them. Instead of an all-new PXI or PXIe based GPATS, PM SMS/ESCT explored combining the existing VXI DTS, the existing VXI High/Medium/Low Frequency Switching, and new PXIe analog instruments in the same VXI chassis. This approach utilizes a COTS PXIe Instrumentation Insertion Kit (PXIe Insert). The PXIe Insert acts as a VXI to PXIe chassis adapter, allowing PXIe instruments to fit and obtain power from a VXI chassis. The end goal of this effort is full functionality of PXIe bus architecture instruments in the existing VXI chassis. In addition to solving the GPATS analog instrument obsolescence problem, the PXI Insert has two benefits. First, the TETS and two VIPER/T can transform into a “Single” sustainable GPATS configuration; and in this particular case, it reduces the required GPATS VXI chassis from Two to “One.” This aligns with USMC concepts for lighter and smaller footprints, while remaining modular and scalable. The objectives of this initial USMC VXI/PXIe integration effort were finding fully suitable PXIe replacement instruments, and then demonstrating complete functionality for each, utilizing the GPATS system software. This was successful. Future testing involves regression testing of Application Program Set (APS) software. In summary, the PXIe Insert technology allows COTS PXIe instrument insertion into the existing VXI chassis, mitigating the impacts of VXI Analog instrument obsolescence. It can also allow future replacement of PXIe instrumentation as USMC GPATS test requirements change. Leveraging PXIe Insert technology into the TETS and VIPER/T VXI chassis is the most direct and potentially cost-effective means to replace older VXI analog instruments.