The automatic test equipment (ATE) industry, valued at $6 billion, is predicted to rise around $3 billion by 2027. ATE helps monitor, control, and derive insights from a wide range of instruments. Who uses ATE? How is it useful?
With the revolutionized electronics industry, we are seeing more equipment with electronics today than ever. Before introducing new devices to the market, companies test their performance and functionality. Here is when ATE comes into play.
A useful diagnostic tool, ATE helps test different types of electronic equipment from various industries, including automation, defense, automotive, aerospace, and others. The tool ensures that end users acquire devices that perform their functions well and do not pose any danger.
What is ATE?
Automatic test equipment, popularly known as ATE, is a machinery that evaluates test instruments for functionality, quality, and performance. It is a computerized ATE driver that requires minimal human interaction.
ATE is also called automated testing equipment and automated test equipment.
The equipment tested by ATE are known as Device Under Test (DUT), and Unit Under Test (UUT). These devices can be printed circuit boards (PCBs), automobile modules, integrated circuits (ICs), Line-replaceable units (LRUs), and different types of electronic systems.
Apart from that, different types of integrated SOC DPS solutions are used for Power Management Test
Different components of an ATE system include software, hardware, signal sources, test instruments, test probes.
Note: Not all types of automated test solutions use the same components. Their usage may vary, depending on the device and the required parameters.
How is ATE Used?
ATE captures, monitors, and controls data from different types of instruments. They include Arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs), Radio frequency (RF), LCR meters, and digital multimeters for current, resistance, and voltage measurements.
ATE systems ensure equipment performs the functions as intended once they reach end users. If there is a fault, it is detected during the testing phase. ATE also helps learn why the fault has occurred, which makes it easy for manufacturers to do the required changes before sending the device to customers.
The best system with an electronics driver also reduces the test time and protects manufacturers against the use of expensive manual testing equipment. The other benefits of ATE include:
- Reduced number of data input errors
- Efficient use of resources
- Accurate test results
Who Uses ATE?
Some of the most common users of ATE are users from the defense and aerospace industries. Here, companies need equipment whose usage is associated with people’s safety. In the field of defense, ATE solutions help test vehicles, aircraft, missile launch, and a wide range of weapons before they are used by soldiers.
Apart from the aerospace and defense industries, ATE is used in the automotive industry, telecommunications, and semiconductor fabrication. In the medical field, ATE is helpful in testing medical devices like pacemakers, ventilators, monitors, and different types of modern surgical devices.
