PC based test system goes portable

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Sep 3, 2004

The Mini-FLITS (front line integrated test system) is an ultralight, PC-based first line test system weighing less than 9kg.

The Mini-FLITS (front line integrated test system) is an ultralight, PC-based first line test system weighing less than 9kg.

Mini-FLITS consists of two PCI slots and two PCMCIA slots.

It is smaller and lighter than its sister product FLITS and has been specifically designed to meet the demands of applications where extra portability is paramount and fewer test requirements are needed.

Racal Instruments believes it is the first company to have developed such a portable, truly general purpose range of test systems that meet the challenges of supporting military prime equipment deployed remotely for extended periods.

FLITS has been developed to overcome the limitations of built-in test (BIT) systems and can be used in conjunction with BIT to more accurately diagnose faults in situ, avoiding the replacement of items subsequently found to be serviceable.

Its general-purpose capability stems from its inclusion of up to nine test instruments in the form of PCI extension cards encompassing most common front line electronic test requirements.

It affords extra versatility by being easily customised for particular applications by substituting different PCI cards from the growing range that is commercially available off the shelf.

Typically FLITS can be used to provide in-situ test and diagnosis of air and ground vehicle installations such as: communication systems; control boxes (gun, turret etc); control panels and keyboards; displays; engine management systems; internal interfaces; navigational aids (Doppler, GPS etc); power supply controls and loads; and processors.

FLITS has a user-friendly interface using Microsoft Windows 2000 software and either industry standard test programming software or Racal's own Genie facility.

The latter encapsulates virtual test types which enable test programs to be rapidly generated without programming knowledge.

Ruggedised to UK MoD First Line/Flight Line environment standards the unit weight less than 13kg and can be powered from standard military aircraft/vehicle power supplies (16-32V DC and 110-250V AC, 50-400 Hz).