PXI instruments build Typhoon cable tester

BAE Systems has selected a system based on NI LabView and PXI for testing high-performance cables in the Eurofighter Typhoon.

BAE Systems required an efficient, automated system for testing RF cables within major units of the aircraft.

These units, produced at BAE Systems Samlesbury, have high-performance coaxial cables that require testing prior to delivery to ensure that no damage has occurred during installation.

Every cable has different operating frequencies, lengths and routing characteristics, and all of these elements impact performance.

National Instruments Alliance Partner TBG Solutions used LabView graphical development software and PXI embedded hardware to design an automated test system that increases accuracy and productivity by facilitating flexible testing.

"Using NI tools, we developed new phase-matching, data-capture software and customised it for this particular application", said Alastair Kane, Systems Engineer at TBG Solutions.

"We were able to create advanced custom analysis functions to manipulate incoming data for comparison against test procedure requirements".

"The system has been so successful that other BAE Systems departments are considering using this solution to meet their RF testing requirements".

Using LabView software, results can be displayed in graphical and tabular formats along with detailed cover sheets showing time, date, operator and product identifier for the test subject.

Operators can record the results in Excel documents with the LabView Report Generation Toolkit for Microsoft Office.

With these results, aircraft inspectors can see quickly and easily the overall results and keep the graphical detail sheets for future reference.

With the new system, operators have more flexibility by being able to conduct 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week testing.