General purpose PC based system for the automatic control of tests and calibrations

The paper illustrates the functions and the architecture of a modular and flexible data acquisition system, which allows to simultaneously perform different tests by integrating instruments with various interfaces and manual instruments in a transparent way. The language by which the test may be specified by nonprogrammer technician is fixed. The automatic certification of test results and the cut of plants and operating costs (in accordance with the school and industry current demands) are also illustrated. Moreover some typical feasible tests, and, particularly a very interesting procedure to characterize a system as a function of its specifications are described