Universal adapter concept as applied to military field-deployed ATE

With suitable planning, it is judged possible to design and construct a universal test adapter for military field-deployed automatic test equipment which, while itself being a passive device, permits the insertion of suitably specialized active and/or passive circuit cards which will enable it to handle the multiplicity of units to be tested. These units range from single circuit cards to subsystem assemblies, and may be either analog or digital. The test adapter must meet criteria of safety, performance, reliability, cost, maintenance, and logistics, as well as help reduce the time required to train personnel. An especially attractive feature of the universal test equipment adapter would be the reduction in storage space made possible by such a device.