A system for automated testing in development of measuring devices for industrial process instrumentation

In this paper, we present the KROHNE TestCenter (KTC), a custom-made test system for automated verification on integration (and partly system) level in the field of industrial process instrumentation. The KTC has been designed and developed at KROHNE to meet demands of (a) aligned test activities amongst various product groups and demands of (b) normative requirements from international standards and industry expectations as well as to account for (c) specific boundary conditions from (partly proprietary) technological solutions. Providing high reproducibility, the developed system allows for test case implementation, remote control of the device under test along with the test equipment, automation of test execution and corresponding analysis as well as an automated generation of documentation. The system has been utilized in multiple running development projects, on the one hand contributing to test activities and on the other hand feeding back gained experiences in enhancements of KTC. This paper reflects initial results obtained over the past 1.5 years. It is envisaged to extend the system and use it as a standard tool within the KROHNE group.