ITCN, Inc. has delivered two semi-rugged BCIT test units to Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale, California facility. The Bus Characterization and Integrity Toolset (BCIT) is a portable, all-in-one test instrument for troubleshooting cables, diagnosing bus health, and monitoring system performance of embedded MIL-STD-1553 data bus networks.

The BCIT was originally developed by ITCN to provide a ruggedized, deployable toolset for analyzing embedded MIL-STD-1553 networks. A semi-rugged Model was also developed for those that work in a less demanding environment. It offers the same test capabilities and portability of the rugged BCIT, but without the additional cost associated with a unit that is ruggedized to meet Military specifications.

Bus characterization testing provides data bus health monitoring for protocol errors, loading, status exceptions, and terminal response for up to four dual redundant MIL-STD-1553 buses. This feature helps capture faults that impact bus protocol, such as faulty stubs or terminals.

Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR). The TDR allows technicians to analyze MIL-STD-1553 cabling to locate opens, shorts, and faulty shields and couplers within six inches of the fault location for cables of up to 1,000 feet long. The BCIT can find intermittent faults easily by capturing data only when an anomaly occurs, such as when a cable is "jiggled."

The BCIT’s database driven user interface allows users to save and recall bus topology, test data, and historical reference data. This Windows(r) based software allows users to do comparative analysis with data cataloging. A historical database makes it easy to compare data over long periods by overlaying cataloged data with active tests. This makes it practical for both diagnostics and prognostics support.

“We are pleased to provide Northrop Grumman with our newest test tool. I’m sure that this is the first of many sales of the semi-rugged BCIT, because of its usefulness to both engineers and field technicians,” said ITCN President, Roy Penwell.