With the rise of smart cities, intelligent factories and the Internet of Things, manufacturers of switching systems are under increasing pressure to adapt their instruments for applications based around connectivity. Switching is a key part of any automated test system, and the technology innovation extends from systems and subsystems down to the component level of chips and relays.
Switching in automated testing enables the efficient sharing of test resources with devices under test. It’s a simple concept, but many small factors help dictate which switching system is best for each application or individual task. Choosing a switching system—be it for test-and-measurement instrumentation, military equipment, communications systems, automotive electronics, or medical devices—can be a challenge for engineers. That’s where vendors come in, ready to aid that decision process. Once a switching system is chosen, vendors are increasingly increasing their accompanying software offerings to help maximize the system’s features and potential.