TEST SYSTEM AND METHOD USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CONTROL

A testing arrangement in which an AI system is interfaced directly to an automatic test system (ATS) such that from the point of view of the ATS, the actions of the AI system are indistinguishable from the actions of an intelligent human operator. A testing apparatus comprises an automatic test system, communication means, and an AI system. The automatic test system comprises an automatic test equipment (ATE) controller, at least one test instrument connectable to the ATE controller and to the unit under test (UUT), and storage means for storing a functional test procedure (FTP) for the UUT. The ATE controller includes an I/O port and ATE data processing means for executing the FTP in response to a start FTP command, and for providing an FTP data set at the I/O port. The FTP data set comprises data indicating the results obtained by executing the FTP. The communication means is connected to the I/O port. The AI system comprises an AI data processor having an I/O port through which the AI data processor is connected to the communication means. The AI system also comprises means for receiving the FTP data set via its I/O port, and expert system means for processing the FTP data set when the FTP data set indicates that a failure has occurred to identify, if possible, the defective UUT portion that may have caused the failure. The expert system means also includes means for producing output data identifying the defective UUT portion. The automatic test system may also comprise a diagnostic test procedure (DTP) for the UUT which may run in response to a DTP request provided by the expert system means when the expert system means determines that further testing should be performed.