What is Hardware testing?
Hardware testing is the process of verifying that your
hardware components and systems meet the specified
requirements and function as expected.
Testing is needed to ensure that every component of a system is operating as it should,
and that the system is performing exactly in accordance with the specific local
requirements.
Ensuring the accuracy of hardware is a crucial component of a well-functioning system.
While this and the two following sections separate hardware, software and
communications into three topics, their operation is often interdependent, and the
following verification, testing and maintenance procedures may need to be carried out
with all three elements in combination.
Testing measures that could be followed include:
developing a set of test criteria
examining if appropriate any code 'hard wired' in hardware (this code is
sometimes known as firmware) to ensure its logical correctness and to
ensure that appropriate standards are followed
conducting tests over an extended period of time, to ensure systems can
perform consistently
conducting 'load tests', simulating as closely as possible a variety of 'real
life' conditions and using or exceeding the amounts of data that could be
expected in an actual situation
verifying that 'what goes in' is 'what comes out', by entering known data
and checking that the output agrees with the input
Functional testing verifies the functionality and
performance of hardware components and systems, such
as power consumption, input/output signals,
communication protocols, and data processing.
Non-functional testing evaluates the quality attributes and
characteristics of hardware products, such as durability,
reliability,
Hardware testing and validation tools
Hardware testing and validation tools are software or
hardware applications that enable you to automate,
manage, or enhance your hardware testing and validation
activities. These tools can help you save time, reduce
errors, improve efficiency, and increase confidence in your
hardware quality and reliability. Some of the most common
tools include test automation tools like LabVIEW,
TestStand, or Arduino IDE; test management tools such as
Jira, Trello, or TestRail; test measurement tools such as
oscilloscopes, multimeters, or data loggers; and test
simulation tools like Spice, Simulink, or MATLAB.
What Is Hardware Testing In Product Development?
Hardware testing is one of the final stages of the product
development process that verifies the full integration of
the product. The purpose of the test is to evaluate the end-
to-end system specifications and provide information about
product quality.
Testing your products’ hardware allows developers to
identify and resolve issues or bugs that could affect
performance, reliability, or user experience. It ensures that
the key functions of your device work as planned and the
quality of your product remains intact.
Advantages Of Hardware Testing In Product Development.
The main advantage of hardware testing is that your
device can be checked against the installed technology and
functional requirements.
Identifying flaws while the product is still in development
gives you the opportunity to address performance,
interoperability, security, and safety issues.
Other benefits include –
Acceleration of product time to market.
Improved accuracy especially in automated testing.
Seamless operations, better user experience.
Faster development and delivery.
Hardware Testing Process — How to test products
during production
A Typical Hardware Testing Process
Create a test environment (e.g. measurement hardware,
test software, cabling, accessories, etc.)
Place the part in the condition required for
measurement (apply pressure, voltage, temperature,
etc.)
Take some measurements
Take these measurements on one or more pass/fail
criteria
Record results as summary data or detailed raw plus
summary data
Repeat 2–5 as needed to go through the entry
conditions
Create a final report document
Mark the part as good or bad
Repeat 2–8 for as many parts as need to be tested.
Certification Testing
There are also various forms of certification testing (eg
CE, FCC, UL, etc.). This testing is generally performed by
certified laboratories dedicated to this type of testing.
How To Determine What Needs To Be Tested
Deciding what is important to test in production is usually
done in one of two ways:
Intimate knowledge of the tested product
Required industry standards
Obviously, you’ll want to test any security-related or
mission-critical features. Additionally, a lot of determining
what to test has a lot to do with performance and
accuracy. What aspects of your product are most likely to
fail based on variances in the manufacturing process?
Some common components/subassemblies to test include:
For Electronic Parts:
supply voltages and currents,
signal levels and frequencies at different test points,
range of operations to check linearity and accuracy,
and so on.
Some of the proto-build stage tests you might do:
Thermal shock / thermal cycling
High temperature, high humidity operation
UV exposure
Salt spray
Household chemical reaction
Water spray for IPX4 certification
Water immersion for IPX7 certification
Dust ingress
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD), contact and air
RF emissions
6-Face Drop
Tumble
Vibration
Abrasion
Switch cycling
What is the difference between firmware and embedded software?
Firmware is a mediator between hardware and software in an embedded system. It is programmed
on a memory chip and performs low-level tasks. Embedded software is more sophisticated and is
responsible for high-level functions and requires an operating system.
What is the difference between firmware and software?
Firmware provides instructions to help hardware start up, communicate with other devices, and
perform basic input/output tasks. Software, on the other hand, is installed onto a device and used
for interaction, such as browsing the internet, word processing, listening to music, and
videoconferencing.
