Tektronix helps automotive testing and quality monitoring maximize efficiency and innovation

Attending Automotive Test & Quality Expo 2023 is not just about showcasing the latest and greatest achievements in automotive technology, it’s also about the cutting-edge tools and technologies that drive innovation in the industry. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the exciting demos at the expo that promise to have a major impact on the automotive testing and quality control world.

Demonstration 1: Minimizing switching losses using a dual-pulse test system

Minimizing switching losses is a serious challenge for power device engineers, especially those working with silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) devices. This advanced material promises improved efficiency, but also comes with its own complexities. The standard method to measure the switching parameters of silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (GaN MOSFETs) and insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT) and evaluate their dynamic behavior is double pulse Test (DPT).

Using double-pulse testing, engineers can measure energy loss during device turn-on and turn-off, as well as reverse recovery parameters. In a world where energy efficiency is paramount, understanding and minimizing these losses is critical. This demonstration is expected to reveal how power device engineers can effectively address this challenge. 

Demo 2: Battery simulation and testing using KickStart software

Batteries are the lifeblood of electric and hybrid vehicles. Battery performance, reliability and service life are key factors for the automotive industry to achieve its electrification goals. Battery cycling, the process of repeatedly charging and discharging a battery a specific number of times, is a key part of battery testing. This allows engineers to understand how the battery performs over time under different conditions.

The Keithley KickStart Battery Simulator application is launching exciting new features, including battery cycling capabilities and source measure unit (SMU) support. This development is expected to be a game changer in battery testing, providing a comprehensive all-in-one solution for battery simulation and model generation. The demonstration will also showcase the application's capabilities for testing cells and simulating battery models using a Keithley 2461 SMU and Li-ion cells.

Demo 3: Test automation by writing scripts using Python and other tools

In the fast-paced world of automotive testing and quality control, product complexity continues to increase while time to market shortens. But the demand for perfect product quality remains unwavering. Test automation emerges as a solution to this challenge. Test automation has become the cornerstone of modern automotive testing and quality monitoring by improving quality, increasing efficiency, improving accuracy and reducing time to insight.

Tektronix equipment is at the forefront of this automation revolution. Tektronix enables engineers to optimize test development and execution through industry-standard command interfaces and communication buses such as USB and Ethernet, combined with high-speed application programming interfaces (APIs), tools and software. The demonstration may shed light on how test automation can reshape the future of automotive testing and quality monitoring.