“Software guys, stop blaming the hardware guys for messing up the boards”  - Ari Mahpour

What is Hardware-in-the-loop testing and how it can save you time and resources when designing your board? In this episode, our guest Ari Mahpour, an engineer with broad experience in designing, manufacturing, testing, and integrating electrical, mechanical, and software systems. He will talk about how you can perform automated hardware testing in the comfort of your home without using any expensive or complex test equipment.

Altium 365: Where the World Designs Electronics

Watch the video, click here.

Show Highlights:

Introduction and Ari’s background in the military and aerospace industry

What is a Hardware-in-the-Loop testing and the inspiration behind it

Taking a costly testing infrastructure to the comfort of your home lab

Headstart up to 75% of your board testing

The problem around the prevailing way of designing and testing—retesting every step of the way using expensive testing equipment, and takes more time for your design engineer, plus the back and forth can blow up your cost quickly

The importance of designing and testing simultaneously and proactively—design engineers have to be part of the test process

The impact of Covid-19 on product development and testing

The need for software-based approach to the hardware development design

Maker movement and hobbyist around the world contributes to less expensive and accessible test solutions (plug-and-play)

Design board, prototype, and watch it fail

Rework the board

Run test in 3 minutes in couple hundreds of bucks

Ari explains how the software in the embedded system works

Ari shares complete details of automated low-cost testing in his article: Low-Cost Solutions for Automated Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing

The concept is to use a simple device that can drive analog signals, read analog signals, generate various protocol serial streams, and analyze waveforms.

Links and Resources:

Ari’s article on Low-Cost Solutions for Automated Hardware in the Loop TestingRead all Ari’s Industry Expert articles on Altium Resource PageBook: Test-Driven Development for Embedded CAri Mahpour on LinkedInEmail Ari Mahpour

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Altium 365: Where the World Designs Electronics