Test sets are collections of tests that allow the Analyst to organize tests into manageable groups that can be easily included or excluded during diagnostics. Although the specific way in which test sets are used can vary greatly from design to design, in all cases it holds true that a well-planned-out approach to test organization will greatly ease the use of tests within eXpress analyses.
How to Use Test Sets
- Before creating test sets, the Analyst should determine the different combinations of test categories that will be needed to support the required analysis scenarios. For example, if different tests were to be used for fault detection than for fault isolation, then two test sets should be created to contain the tests of each type:
Analysis Case Study
Detection Test Set
Isolation Test Set
Fault Detection
X
Fault Isolation
X
For many projects, analysis must be separately performed using different combinations of BIT. When this is the case, then separate test sets can be created for each BIT category:
Analysis Case Study
Start-Up BIT Test Set
Continuous BIT Test Set
Initiated BIT Test Set
Pre-Flight Diagnostics
X
Operational Diagnostics
X
Ground Maintenance
X
X
X
Another scenario involves a series of trade studies evaluating the relative diagnostic impact of upgrading a system's hardware or software. When this is the case, test sets should be created for the existing BIT, for additional tests that would be provided by the proposed hardware upgrade (the Additional BIT Test Set) and for the tests that would be implemented via software (the ITEM Test Set):
