Automated calibration and validation of automotive test instrumentation

We describe the design and implementation of an automated calibration system for the thermocouple/voltage modules from an automotive data-acquisition system. The automated calibration system tests and calibrates sixteen thermocouple/voltage signal-conditioning cards, with a combined total of 320 data channels, over the data-acquisition systempsilas operating range from -40degF through +160degF. The calibration system collects initial measurements to document on-arrival performance, calibrates each channel, collects final measurements to verify each channelpsilas post-calibration operation, tests each channelpsilas dynamic response over temperature gradients, and then analyzes results and produces reports, all within a period of fifteen hours. The system automatically identifies channels that fail calibration and flags them for repair.