Developing Enhanced Light Imaging Test Equipment for DUTS obsolescence

This paper will address the process that was implemented to manage and assess the existing obsolete hardware and implement new modern hardware. Managing obsolete software to process and assess newer technology and improve software functionality and robustness into the existing system in order to meet minimum schedule for qualification and acceptance. Maintaining test equipment that was designed over 20 years ago has presented major issues dealing with obsolescence. The steps of dealing with obsolescence are an ongoing process that will continue as new technology is always emerging. Hardware and software advancements continue to grow to provide faster, smarter and more accurate test equipment. When dealing with obsolete equipment there is often no longer sufficient support for the equipment from the manufacturer and maintaining the equipment to top standards and test procedures can prove difficult. Older obsolete equipment generally will not perform as well as newer technology and when components in the test equipment become obsolete, new technology must be implemented with old equipment to function as desired. Pairing older and newer technology may sometimes be a difficult task considering potential hardware and software incompatibility. All the potential issues must be explored and once understood procuring the new equipment is the next step. Once procured extensive testing must be performed to ensure complete compatibility between old and new equipment. Complete understanding of the obsolete equipment is essential in order to implement new equipment. From there we can learn and understand how newer equipment technology can be implemented with existing hardware and software capabilities. This paper discusses the replacement of the obsolete Computer Automated Display (CAD) test set with the new Enhanced Light Imaging Test Equipment (ELITE) required for the C-17 Display Unit Test Station (DUTS). The purpose is to show how the ELITE is smaller, lighter and enhances functionality than its predecessor.