A practical approach to accelerated stress testing for avionics products

Accelerated stress testing (AST) is a powerful design tool that can provide a company with a distinct advantage over those who do not practice this discipline. If AST is incorporated early in the lifecycle, large gains in reliability and lower warranty repair costs can be expected. These in turn create greater customer goodwill and strengthen a company's position within its respective industry. The initial capital investment that is required to perform AST can seem costly, however, the cost required to increase a product's reliability once it has been fielded can be orders of magnitude greater than the initial investment to implement AST. This paper outlines a test philosophy developed to overcome a small sample size while applying adequate stress levels in a manner that precipitates defects without overstressing the product too early in the test process.