APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR VIRTUAL ASSEMBLY, INTEGRATION AND TESTING OF AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM

An apparatus for testing a subsystem of a plurality of subsystems capable of being assembled to form an integrated system may include an integration stand for testing the subsystem without actual physical assembly of the plurality of subsystems which form the integrated system. The integration stand may include an interface to connect the subsystem to the integration stand for testing. The integration stand may also include a network device for connecting the integration stand to a communications network for communications between the subsystem and any other subsystems of the plurality of subsystems available via the network. In this way, the subsystem and the other subsystems may be virtually assembled and integrated to virtually form the integrated system for interoperability of the subsystems and testing without actual physical assembly of the plurality of subsystems. The integration stand may also include a simulation unit to simulate any other subsystems forming the integrated system, which are unavailable via the communications network, to virtually form the integrated system for testing the subsystem connected to the interface of the integration stand.