Introduction to Flexible Testing Technology

　　What is “flexible testing”?

　　What is "flexible testing"? Is it a product? Is it a system? Or a complete solution? This seems to be a question that everyone wants to know clearly. When people pay more and more attention to specific objects with a certain form, they often ignore the "technology" hidden behind the objects. Mr. Zuo made a very vivid analogy: for example, when buying a TV, everyone only cares about the performance of the TV, but few people pay attention to the detailed technology of producing the TV, but it is precisely these technologies and processes that determine the difference in the level of the product. The same is true for test and measurement systems. Each manufacturer uses different means when doing different integration projects. Panhua takes this means as its research goal, studying how to achieve a more accurate, reliable, flexible and easy-to-expand system. So from this perspective, "flexible testing" is actually a technology. A more accurate definition of "flexible testing" should be that it focuses on the functions and performance of the test and measurement system, and studies and develops methods and means to meet the needs of the test and measurement system. The advantage of flexible testing technology is that it is closer to the final solution of test and measurement. The result is not a simple product or a simple system integration, but a professional and mature application system.

　　The Origin of "Flexible Testing" Technology and Panhua Measurement and Control

　　As we all know, in the past ten years, Panhua Measurement & Control has been providing tools and system integration services based on these tools for users who need test and measurement products. It is precisely because of years of accumulation and careful summary that Panhua’s proposal of the concept of “flexible testing” has become a necessity.

　　In the process of promoting virtual instruments and virtual instrument technology products, Panhua gradually discovered some problems - when people want to build a real test and measurement system, even with high-performance measurement tools, they may not be able to achieve the expected test results and test purposes. Mr. Zuo gave everyone another example: For example, when making a test device on an industrial automation production line, we need to consider how to make the device access better? Access equipment and transmission equipment may not be the objects of test and measurement research. But when forming a test and measurement system, they become crucial things. Another question is how to better access the signal? Although there are good sensors and acquisition equipment, if there is a problem when plugging, it cannot guarantee that the test system is good. Everyone knows that the earphones on mobile phones often have problems. Why do they go wrong? - There is a problem with the patch cord. If a mobile phone has a good earphone, but if there is a problem with the earphone cable, the entire system cannot actually complete its mission. So when we encounter these problems, when we get deeper and deeper into applications and systems, we will find a problem: we have many technologies, not test and measurement technologies themselves, but when they are applied in test and measurement systems, they have many characteristics different from the original technology itself, and there is no goal or general term for research in this area. Last year, Panhua also made a lot of test systems. When we really researched and developed these systems, we encountered and solved many such difficulties. For example, when we make an industrial automation production test equipment and want to quickly connect the signal to the test system, we have a rotating clamping system. You have to consider that the product itself cannot be too clamped, otherwise it will damage the product; another thing to consider is signal access. If the clamping is not enough, there will be loss in signal access, and the test will be unreliable. So when we do testing, we will encounter many problems that are not related to test and measurement. Therefore, we have an idea to target the test and measurement system or application, and the object of research is the means to meet this demand, which is the concept of "flexible testing" we recently proposed. This technology takes the means of studying and meeting measurement needs as its research goal. How can you connect better, measure more accurately, present your data better, and analyze more thoroughly? In fact, our research goal is in this direction.

　　"Flexible Testing" - A Banner of Panhua Measurement and Control

  　　From agents to technology with independent intellectual property rights, many people have this question for Panhua: Is Panhua trying to carry its own banner by proposing the concept of "flexible testing"? In response to everyone's questions and speculations, President Zuo frankly said that the introduction of the "flexible testing" technology has given the company a clearer and longer-term goal to pursue.

　　Mr. Zuo said: "As Panhua Measurement & Control, we have been paying attention to the development of China's test and measurement industry, this technology, and the progress of China's test and measurement technology itself. We have been paying attention to this field. (Maybe what I said is not necessarily correct) But I think that there are too few companies or research institutions in China that can really delve into and develop test and measurement technology. That is, not many people really pay attention to your means and how you can measure better. In the process of promoting and popularizing virtual instrument technology products, we have experienced this embarrassment. That is to say, as a test device, we have this means, but as a test system, it is difficult for us to study it, that is, we do not have an ultimate research goal. Test and measurement technology focuses on measuring something well. The reason why Panhua proposed the concept of "flexible testing" is to address the problem of "how to measure well".

　　Virtual instrument technology provides a powerful testing method and a testing tool, but it is not a testing system or a final solution. So who will solve this problem? So now many research institutions, universities and companies in China are using these things to build systems. At this time, a problem is discovered. Although they are all built with NI products, the flexibility, reliability, accuracy and adaptability of the built systems will vary greatly due to the different objects and methods you focus on. In addition to the products, there are many factors that will restrict the reliability, flexibility, adaptability and scalability of the test system. At this time, Panhua will propose such a technology to form a complement between us and NI: NI provides very good tools, and we focus on applications to carry out research at the application layer. So this is also a goal of Panhua, because from the perspective of corporate development or the entire industry, we need many people to do different research. Because any unit, enterprise, or research institution cannot make everything very accurate. So this is also an idea of ​​Panhua.

　　From this point of view, there are two purposes. The concept of flexible testing is proposed. One is to give the company a clear direction, and the other is to have our own flag. "

　　Starting from the automobile manufacturing industry, we will gradually expand into more fields

　　For simple signal acquisition and analysis, we can use existing instruments or virtual instrument technology to achieve it. However, for a test system with obvious industry characteristics that requires the coordination of multiple related technologies and means, it is necessary to have a deep understanding of data acquisition systems, data analysis and processing systems, electromechanical devices, sensor equipment, and test and measurement solutions with professional backgrounds. Using any one technology alone is incomplete. Moreover, each category of technology has its own development laws and directions, and may not be able to take into account the different characteristics of all application fields. This requires the decomposition of various technologies related to test and measurement, and the formation of more professional and applicable technologies according to different application fields. In layman's terms, to become a "specialist" in a certain industry, you must have a thorough understanding of all production links involved in this industry. The automobile manufacturing industry can be said to be the earliest test field of Panhua's "flexible testing" technology. Today, it has achieved remarkable achievements and even designed multiple sets of system products based on flexible testing technology, such as: universal test system for automotive sensors, circuit board functional test system-FCT for PCBA, automotive fuse box assembly detection system, noise source location analysis system, etc. Panhua knows that in order to become a "jack of all trades", it must first become a "specialist" in each industry and conquer each industry one by one. The successful application of flexible testing technology in the automotive manufacturing industry has laid a foundation for Panhua to continue to explore other industries and has also increased its confidence. Panhua's manager Shi Yongqin said that they have begun to contact some other industries, such as the brake oil testing system and refining and fuel systems made for the Petroleum Research Institute not long ago. Although Panhua does not have a clear timetable to enter a certain field at present. However, within the framework of flexible testing and within the scope that Panhua can support, they will continue to look for some major industrial directions or some basic directions for research.

　　The market and development prospects of "flexible testing"

　　The development of electronic technology has promoted the development of test and measurement technology, and has also brought more and more market opportunities to the field of test and measurement. The introduction of the concept of flexible test technology has further enriched the field of test and measurement. Mr. Zuo is full of confidence in the future of Panhua and "flexible testing": the flexible test system will not only not affect the market of traditional instruments and virtual instruments, but will also promote the continuous progress and development of test and measurement equipment and methods. With the continuous improvement of flexible test technology, the work of establishing a test system will be mainly completed by suppliers, which will not only save time and money for customers, but also provide customers with a scientific and reasonable test and measurement solution.

　　The development of the industry is increasingly focusing on collaboration to give full play to each other's expertise. The goal of flexible testing technology is to promote the development of the industry and use professional capabilities to do professional things. "

　　For the vast majority of industry users, the "flexible testing" technology is like a new life that has just been conceived. People have too much curiosity and expectation about the arrival of this new life. However, for Panhua, this technology is not brand new, but it is the result of many years of experience. Regardless of its future development, it is at least an inspiration to us: when we are increasingly pursuing "new" products and "new" technologies, should we also summarize those past experiences and lessons, so as to extract the essence and sublimate them? Perhaps these are the cornerstones supporting the development of today's automation technology.