8 minute read
Koji Okamoto
Test Process Automation
The network is mission-critical. Telecom operators across the world have risen to the challenge of increased network demand, as recent events have abruptly led to mass-adoption of remote work, permanently changing the way we perceive our digital environments and this has certainly strained fibre networks. Network service activation and operation are becoming ever more complex, spanning many diverse technologies from wireline to wireless.
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Delivering and maintaining high-quality network service requires reliable fault detection processes and continuous improvement. Affirming these challenges, technicians must learn various complex tasks, to be effective and make field operations faster and efficient, at the same time reduce their time in the field as they deploy, maintain and optimize networks. Finding the right expertise, tools and management solutions is the key and one solution is greater use of test process automation (TPA) to replace manual and error-prone processes, enabling field technicians of all skill levels to address today’s challenges. By improving test process efficiency, technician can easily address network issues, leading to effective troubleshooting and faster deployment.
Koji Okamoto
VP and GM, Fiber and Access Business, VIAVI Solutions
Test process automation (TPA) is designed to optimize technician workflows. Each step of the process is automated to ensure that proper test sequence is executed, resulting in consistent service delivery. Augmented process automation enables efficiency of field operations, while assuring that critical tests and documentation tasks are completed to ensure high-quality network operations. Test Process Automation initiative help customers transform their workflow with a new process to: • Reduce manual test processes and data entry - minimizing human error and increasing the scale of network deployment. • Consistently execute testing processes, delivering quality results every time. • Provide objective evidence of proper job completion with reporting on field test results. Mobile applications enrich
a closed-loop test process. • Reduce training needs with easy to use instruments featuring clear, simple pass and fail indicators, and guided test processes with the availability of remote expert help. • Speed revenue cycles with real-time results and automatic report generation.
As test processes and workflows are defined centrally and pushed to test instruments, manual procedures can be reduced or eliminated. This ensures that results are consistent, repeatable and compliant with the execution of specific tests, test thresholds, test order and correct network locations. Process automation also streamlines training by shifting the focus to the test process itself, as opposed to emphasizing technical training that can easily overwhelm technicians. Test process automation delivers actionable insights and problem resolution that yields accurate diagnosis of network issues. This enables communication service providers to consistently improve network design. Here, it’s important to leverage open software interfaces to ensure that test process creation and results reporting are compatible across network
Accuracy of service activation
Right service activation is key to an operator’s overall profitability, often saving up to 30-45 percent of operational expenditures. Yet different technologies require specific test processes, and service activation inefficiencies can arise when testing is not consistent. The solution to this testing problem requires an automated service activation test process. In order to successfully automate service activation testing, best practices include a centralized management server to create workflow jobs made up of customized service activation tests. Workflow jobs should be pushed to the test instrument, and individual test reports should include site pictures and equipment connections. Test reports can be uploaded to the management server to streamline activation and acceptance.
It is essential to note that that the service activation workflow is simple, so that technicians can easily follow regardless of their skill levels, while create & deploy test procedures quickly and with consistency. A job manager should provide a common guided test process for each job, while coordinating tasks & results across instruments and deliver quick automated management systems and field mobile applications.
instrument test results and play a key role in today’s testing processes, enabling technicians to multitask and control test instruments remotely. This is vital for technicians who run several tests concurrently or those who are working in harsh conditions.
Test process automation advances test workflow and network insights. By incorporating test process automation, communication service providers can accelerate and optimize their testing capabilities; to develop automated test solutions that help, launch and maintain their networks with ease, saves time and compress operational expense of workforce, while boosting customer retention & acquisition.
YOKOGAWA’S WT5000 “FUTURE OF POWER MEASUREMENT”
WT5000 Precision Power Analyzer is a versatile platform that delivers extraordinary precision and exceptional performance for the most demanding applications. Equipped with 7 Modular, user swappable and reconfigurable input elements plus 4 motor channels, the WT5000 is an ideal instrument for both electrical and mechanical power and efficiency measurements. Now listed as an accepted device for SPEC Power® testing and IEC harmonic and flicker standards. Its highly responsive touchscreen, intuitive menu operations, and out of the box software solution make the WT5000 an ideal instrument for your testing needs.
Through our work with engineers in the areas of R&D, Production, QA and Field Testing, Yokogawa recognizes the importance of reliable and precise measurements for making critical decisions in product development and compliance. For more than 100 years, we have been pushing the limits of measurement accuracy and integrity with every generation of our measurement technologies. With the WT5000, Yokogawa ushers in a new era of precision power measurements that provides engineers with the accuracy and the confidence to keep up with evolving international standards as well as the flexibility to adapt to ever changing application needs. Packing the very best in isolation, noise immunity, current sensing and filtering in a modular architecture, the WT5000 is an extensible measurement platform that unlocks precision power analysis for electromechanical systems in electric vehicles, renewable energy, home and office appliances and industrial equipment.
Reliable Today, Ready for Tomorrow
• Make measurements you can trust with a guaranteed accuracy of 0.03% • 10MS/s, 1MHz power bandwidth, 18 bit resolution enabled by Yokogawa isoPRO™ fiber optic isolation technology • Simultaneously analyse 7 phases with one chassis, producing over 1000 power parameters real-time • Precision current measurement guaranteed by innovative symmetric coaxial shunt design • Stream raw waveform data up to 22 items at a rate of up to 2 MS/s for detailed waveform analysis • Internal Memory up to 32GB • Harmonics regulation test • Fluctuation and Flicker regulation test
[Tume/div] settings (Pinch-in and-out) Switch waveforms (Flick operation)
Innovate with Precision, Flexibility and Confidence
• Modular architecture with 7 user swappable and reconfigurable input elements • Synchronize multiple chassis for large multi-phase systems • For motors and generators up to 4 speed and torque inputs can be used measuring total system efficiency • Isolate and measure harmonic losses with configurable advanced filtering for simultaneous wideband and harmonic power analysis • Stream raw waveform data up to 22 items at a rate of up to 2 MS/s for detailed waveform analysis Precision Made Easy • Highly responsive 10.1-inch electrostatic capacitive touch screen • Intuitive and easy menus to connect, configure, measure and record • Modular interconnect design putting safety first
Renewable Energy Development
Energy generated by photovoltaic cell modules and wind turbines is converted from DC to AC by a power conditioning system (PCS). Minimizing losses in these conversions improves the efficiency in the overall energy system.
Efficiency of Electric Vehicles and Powertrains
From R&D to manufacturing and compliance testing, measurement of powertrain not only require progressively greater accuracies but also consistency in measurement over the specified ranges and conditions.
Application in Lighting Drive Circuit Testing
In recent years, fluorescent and incandescent lamps have been gradually replaced by longer- life, lower-energy LED lamps. In order to further improve the efficiency of LEDs, engineers are working to improve the power conversion efficiency of LED driver circuits (drive modules). Engineers need to measure the electrical parameters of the drive circuit.
Robot servo motor test
Servo motors are widely used in automation equipment such as robots and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine tools. It is necessary to test the voltage, current, input power, mechanical power and efficiency of the servo motor and controller.
Medical equipment board power test
In general-purpose medical equipment, it is necessary to strictly control the power consumption and current conditions of each circuit board. So that engineers can provide an optimized design based on safety
Reactive power compensation device testing
The reactive power compensation device plays a key role in dealing with the power quality problem caused by a large number of non-linear loads connected to the power grid. Among them, power factor, harmonic and other test items are particularly important
AC magnetic properties measurement of core materials
As the EV industry continues to evolve, development engineers are increasingly rigorous in measuring motor losses, as this will directly affect the endurance of the vehicle being developed. The iron loss test of the motor is one of the most important
Transformer Testing
In the power generation and distribution industries, the power supply company and transformer manufacturers are particularly concerned about the economic effect of transformer losses. Therefore, the accuracy of the measurement system becomes especially important
Wind Power Inverter Measurement
The energy generated by the wind turbine is converted from AC to DC by the converter and then converted to AC at the grid frequency. Reducing the losses in these conversions is critical to increasing the efficiency of the entire wind power system.
Synchronous measurement system in rail transit
The new urban light rail transportation project is equipped with a battery energy storage system and energy feedback technology, which can recover electric energy during the braking process, and continue to drive by enabling the energy storage battery in the case of extreme special power failure.
Appliance Performance Testing
In the performance test of the appliances it is need to record flow, temperature, power, etc. WT5000 seamlessly transfer power parameters to Yokogawa paperless recorder GP10/ GP20 via Ethernet. GP10/GP20 also records temperature and flow data
Power Calibration
For customers who use a large number of power meters, WT5000 can be used as a reference standard for periodic in-house calibration of power measurement instruments, such as the WT300E series and WT500.
