ATML as a framework for reducing development time and maintenance of next generation test systems

Although ATML has started to gain momentum in the defense industry because of its adoption in high-profile projects (Woodward and Harris, 2006) and its implementation by ATS vendors (Gonzalez, 2006), a large segment of the automatic test community lacks in-depth knowledge of all the ATML components and how to use ATML in their own systems. Furthermore, for ATML to deliver on the productivity gains it proposes, ATML must be adopted beyond the defense industry. This article is an introduction to ATML, its subcomponents, and how it is being used in automatic test software development. In particular, this article focuses on how ATML can facilitate information exchange, expand interoperability of test systems, and increase ATS component documentation. The article describes the eight schemas that make up ATML and focuses on the test description and test results schemas to demonstrate how ATSs can use these components.