Military and field test applications using modified COTS products

Field test for military and industrial applications requires special test equipment that meets stringent environmental requirements. These test applications require hardware that can provide high-performance and capabilities, yet be portable and rugged to ensure usability in the field. Typical environmental requirements include extended temperature range, shock & vibration, altitude, humidity, salt-fog, explosive atmosphere, EMI/RFI and more. The required levels are in most cases higher than those provided by commercial off the shelf (COTS) equipment, which dictates a different approach by the tester designer. This paper discussed design approaches for such testers or data acquisition systems and advocates the use of modified COTS as the preferred solution.