Managing the transition to IEEE 1641, via ATLAS based test systems

Over the last two years, a product has been introduced onto a Royal Air Force test system, which provides an integrated IEEE 1641 development and run-time system. The program involved the integration of several existing COTS products to provide a facility to enable the creation of a TPS using 1641 signal definitions, through to the running of the test program using established instruments and driver software. This system uses ATLAS as an intermediary between the IEEE 1641 program and the run-time system. There are many existing systems in the field which are based on ATLAS of various flavors. Many, if not all, of these could be upgraded to include an IEEE 1641 programming facility, which would provide compatibility with the IEEE 1761 (ATML) series of standards now being adopted by the DoD. This paper discusses how the transition to IEEE 1641 may be managed at comparatively low cost using ATLAS systems. The result of this transitional method will be a suite of validated IEEE 1641 test programs that not only run on current and legacy test systems but will provide a library of programs ready to run on future full-function 1641-based test systems.