- Abbreviated Test Language for All Systems
Abbreviated Test Language for All Systems (ATLAS) is a MILSPEC language for automatic testing of
avionics equipment. It is a high-levelcomputer language and can be used on any computer whose supportingsoftware cantranslate it into the appropriatelow-level instructions .History
The ATLAS language was initially developed by an international committee made up of representatives from the airline industries, military services,
avionics manufacturers, andAutomatic Test Equipment manufacturers. The goal of the committee was to design a standard English-like language that could be easily understood and used by both avionics and test equipment engineers. The result was the ATLAS language specification, published byAeronautical Radio, Inc .The ATLAS language is oriented toward the
Unit Under Test and is independent of thetest equipment used. This allowsinterchangeability oftest procedures developed by different organizations, and thus reduces costly duplication of testprogramming effort.The first ATLAS specification developed by the international committee was published in 1968. The basic document has been revised several times.
The ATLAS programming language incorporates an online compiler (
OLC ), Test executive (TEX orTest Exec ), andfile manager and media exchange (FMX ) packages. Test executive is the mode ATLAS is run in on test stations while testingelectronic equipment .tructure
A standard ATLAS program structure consists of two elements: preamble structure and procedural structure. The ATLAS programming language makes extensive use of variables and statement syntax. An ATLAS statement consists of a flag field, statement number field (STATNO), verb field, field separator, variable field, and statement terminator. Each and every ATLAS statement is terminated with the currency symbol ($).
ATLAS is used in the Air Force primarily on test stations for testing the avionic components of the
F-15 Eagle ,F-16 Fighting Falcon ,C-5 Galaxy ,C-17 Globemaster III , andB-1 Lancer . The U. S. Navy uses or has used ATLAS-based programs for testing avionics systems of theSH-60 Seahawk ,E-2C Hawkeye ,F-14 Tomcat ,F/A-18 Hornet ,S-3 Viking ,A-6 Intruder andEA-6B Prowler .ATLAS statement structure
A standard ATLAS statement:
F STATNO | | VERB |, | VARIABLE FIELD | | $Sample ATLAS Statements:
000250 DECLARE,DECIMAL,'A1'(4)$ 000300 FILL, 'A1', 'NUM', (1) 1, 5, (2) 20, 87, (3) 15, 12, (4) 30, 18$ C AN ATLAS COMMENT HAS A 'C' IN COLUMN 1 AND ENDS WITH A DOLLAR SIGN $
ee also
*
Programming language External links
* [http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/scc20/atlas/ IEEE Standards Association ATLAS documents] (
IEEE Standards Association )
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