Over the last few weeks Devtank have taken the HILTOP product solution to a number of events to showcase our capabilities within test and measurement. In this blog we share the highlights of HILTOP on tour and the answers to some of the questions we were asked whilst we were out and about.
Introduction to HILTOP
For those of you who aren’t familiar with HILTOP, which is powered by Raspberry Pi, here’s a quick overview:
HILTOP covers everything production testing with typical applications being:
- Automated test and measurement (ATE)
- Remote monitoring
- Hardware in the loop testing
- Measurement automation
- Production process monitoring
- Electrical and functional product testing
- Industrial control
HILTOP is a modular open source hardware and software platform that provides clients with a robust base to build test and measurement solutions. Devtank provide either ProdTop or LabTOP open source software for production testing or laboratory testing. The underlying software is Linux based and can do anything you need with some customisation.
HILTOP out and about
Over the last few weeks HILTOP has been on display at a few events, including the Engineering Design Show (EDS) and the Raspberry Pi partner event in London.
Our partners, two of which exhibited at the Engineering Design Show, used HILTOP to demonstrate how we work together to achieve fantastic results. This event was exceptionally busy, both Joe and Tim were on hand to talk to the stand visitors and answer their questions. Here’s some of the questions (and our answers!) we were asked:
1) Should every board we manufacture be tested?
This is a quick one to answer – yes, every board should be tested!
2) How fast can you test a board?
It could be as fast as a few seconds, but it very much depends on the board. If the board’s firmware takes a minute to be programmed on, then we can’t test in under a minute. If the board’s firmware takes over a further minute to boot, then we can’t test in under two minutes. If there is an electrical fault trip time, we have to wait that time. We will work with the customer to optomise everything for the fastest throughput.
3) Does the test data and results live on the HILTOP?
Ideally not, we recommend the HILTOP is used as a database client. It then pulls the latest tests from a central database and puts the results for the product under test into the database afterwards. We have set up our system so that the full logs are automatically exported into a database, so even a pass can be debugged after the test if needed.
4) Once this is on the production line, do you offer support?
Yes we offer regular maintenance and support contract packages but every customer is different. We like a VPN connection into the production network so we can remotely debug before having to visit the site, ideally but we can work around your set up. We also visualise the test data to home in on production issues and maximise yields.
5) Can you use a HILTOP for calibration?
Yes. We can, and do, calibrate the HILTOP, so there is a calibration paper trail. We offer yearly calibration as part of a support contract to you. We also use the HILTOP as an automated controller for other instrument calibration.
6) Can you look at the HILTOP results without a HILTOP?
Absolutely. The software for a HILTOP Prod Tester can normally be run independently of the HILTOP to look at the results in the same manner as on a HILTOP, only with the comfort of a desktop computer. Also we often do Grafana visualisation of the production test data. All the statistics can be accessed via your computer.
7) How can HILTOP improve quality?
In simple terms quality can be improved as HILTOP identifies design or production flaws quickly, and if there are component faults those will be detected as well, depending on your level of test coverage. Shipping tested, traceable products is key to having control of quality.
8) How can I access my data?
HILTOP has a lovely screen which you can see data as tests are happening in real time, however it doesn’t stay there – everything is available in via a web browser based visualisation tool which is easily accessible to you as a database and we can easily build dashboards so you can see where the issues are, especially useful for those looking into production / processing issues.
9) Do you use bespoke coding?
No, Devtank are an open source advocate simply because we believe everything should be fixable. So we use standard coding languages such as Python for implementing automated test scripts and C/C++ for test programs. All test results are stored in an SQL Database which can be stored locally or via LAN to your network.
At the Raspberry Pi partner event Devtank had a stall in the product showcase area where we spoke to many people we know who were interested in our developments and latest projects plus new people who wanted to hear more about Devtank and HILTOP, here the questions were very technical;, the most common questions included:
10) Why are you powering HILTOP with Raspberry Pi?
Our HILTOP test platform runs with a Raspberry Pi computer module at the heart, and we proudly market our licence “Powered by Pi” as it’s awarded to those designing and manufacturing high-quality products using Raspberry Pi components. As our commitment to modular design, open-source technology, and automation runs alongside developing testing solutions that are tailored to your unique needs. We chose Raspberry Pi in the first place because of the brand awareness, quality of products and massive community for support.
Raspberry Pi see us as design partners worthy of being licenced. You as a customer can be confident that the product will be powered by high‑quality computers and microcontrollers from Raspberry Pi.
11) How can I build a HILTOP system?
Devtank have 4 options:
- HILTOP Bare (an ATX style naked motherboard)
- HILTOP Compact (small rack)
- HILTOP Maxi (large rack)
- HILTOP Custom (modified rack for a specific application)
These pre-configured motherboards have multiple onboard interfaces, some of the models offer 3 or 6 expansion slots giving direct access to the backplace and full I/O test and measurement capability. In truth you don’t need to select the system, you need to provide us with the project brief and we’ll specify the best one for the solution you need.
It’s always a pleasure to showcase HILTOP and answer the questions that people have on our comprehensive test system. A system that doesn’t have any vendor lock in and embraces the future of automation.
