Compatibility Tests for Automation Platform
Kankainen, Ossi (2022)
2022
Automaatiotekniikan DI-ohjelma - Master's Programme in Automation Engineering
Tekniikan ja luonnontieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2022-05-03
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202204263738
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202204263738
Tiivistelmä
Distributed control systems are built on top of automation platform software. The system nodes might have different versions of the automation platform installed because some of them have been updated or they have been deployed later than the others. Thus, keeping system operable requires compatibility between the different automation platform versions. Compatibility must be verified with tests.
The goal of this thesis was to start development of automated compatibility tests for automation platform. Test methods were looked from literature. Because there is not public research concerning automation platform compatibility testing, the methods were found from literature concerning other similar software fields.
Based on theory, test cases can be included in components, they can be generated from system models, or they can base on user’s specifications. Compatibility verification tests can utilize captured execution data, reuse existing test assets, or test developers can write new targeted tests. Compatibility test system architecture consists of multiple interconnected nodes which are controlled and observed. The architecture can also have tools to analyse communication between the nodes. These method options are a starting point for a test development process.
This thesis applied the above methods and presented a compatibility test development process for automation platforms. It starts from identification of the system enablers and limiters. They are used to select the most suitable methods. Then, the process continues with design of test cases and test architecture. The obtained test results are used in iterative development of the tests.
The implemented tests noticed all known incompatibilities and some new issues were also found. Integration to continuous development of the automation platform was rapid because the tests reused existing assets. This thesis proved that the general compatibility testing methods work well also with automation platforms. The test development process helps to find the most suitable methods for each case.
The goal of this thesis was to start development of automated compatibility tests for automation platform. Test methods were looked from literature. Because there is not public research concerning automation platform compatibility testing, the methods were found from literature concerning other similar software fields.
Based on theory, test cases can be included in components, they can be generated from system models, or they can base on user’s specifications. Compatibility verification tests can utilize captured execution data, reuse existing test assets, or test developers can write new targeted tests. Compatibility test system architecture consists of multiple interconnected nodes which are controlled and observed. The architecture can also have tools to analyse communication between the nodes. These method options are a starting point for a test development process.
This thesis applied the above methods and presented a compatibility test development process for automation platforms. It starts from identification of the system enablers and limiters. They are used to select the most suitable methods. Then, the process continues with design of test cases and test architecture. The obtained test results are used in iterative development of the tests.
The implemented tests noticed all known incompatibilities and some new issues were also found. Integration to continuous development of the automation platform was rapid because the tests reused existing assets. This thesis proved that the general compatibility testing methods work well also with automation platforms. The test development process helps to find the most suitable methods for each case.