The Modern Battery Lab combines the advanced features of the PAtools Battery Lab Software with the power of SystemLink Enterprise. The Modern Battery Lab enables you to create, configure, execute, and monitor electric vehicle (EV) battery tests. The Modern Battery Lab also enables you to analyze test data on a mass scale.

The Modern Battery Lab provides engineers with the following capabilities:

  • Optimization of workflows that enable collaboration between product teams, test engineers, lab managers, and operators.
  • Actionable insights from data across the battery life cycle.
  • Dashboards and visualizations that provide real-time feedback to stakeholders.
  • An open and flexible software platform that enables fast adaptation to changing requirements.
  • Coordination and test scheduling to optimize testing resources.
  • Automation of data analytics and reports for post-test review.
  • Connection to the most popular cyclers and instruments.

Components of a Modern Battery Lab

The Modern Battery Lab is scalable and includes all components required to perform battery validation tests.

The following figure illustrates the components of a PAtools system.

Figure 1. The Modern Battery Lab Components
  • PAtools SQL Database—Database management system for the PAtools databases.
  • NI SystemLink Enterprise—Scalable, self-hosted enterprise software for managing product validation, test operations, and life cycle analytics. Refer to SystemLink Enterprise Overview for more information.
  • PAtools Test Generator Machine—PC used to generate PAtools tests from SystemLink test plans to run on a specific test station.
  • Test Stations—Equipment required for an instance of testing. Each test station has a PXI controller that you configure to run PAtools tests.
  • Other Purpose Stations (Optional)—Equipment required to perform other operations in the test lab, such as a station to prepare a DUT for testing.
  • User PCs—PCs used by engineers to perform the following battery test tasks using the PAtools software.
    • Writing and configuring test procedures
    • Creating tests to deploy to a test station
    • Monitoring and debugging the tests
    You can also use a user PC to interact with SystemLink when performing the following tasks.
    • Managing a test lab
    • Controlling and monitoring test execution
    • Reviewing test data

    • Use the following components in your test stations and other purpose stations.

  • DUT—The device under test.
  • Facility Power Interface—Provides the power from the facility to the test system.
  • Cycler Cabinet—Drives charge and discharge cycles of the DUT.
  • Control Cabinet—Contains the PXI controller that runs the PAtools testing software and other protective electronic components.
  • Climate Chamber—Encloses a space to enable the manipulation of temperature and humidity conditions during a controlled test.
  • DC Connection Box—Connects the DUT to the power equipment and the measurement equipment.
  • Measurement Rack—Contains measurement equipment that acquires test data from the DUT.
  • Chiller (Water Conditioning Unit)—Circulates a liquid coolant to keep the system within acceptable temperatures.

    • Modern Battery Lab Workflow

    Several roles participate in the Modern Battery Lab workflow. Depending on the lab, the same person might perform some of these roles. Alternatively, multiple people might split roles.

    The following figure illustrates the Modern Battery Lab workflow.

    Figure 2. Modern Battery Lab Workflow
  • Integrator—Designs the lab layout. Integrators also set up the following to enable PAtools tests to be written in PAtools and executed from SystemLink:
    • Modern Battery Lab systems
    • Test station hardware
    • Test station software. Upload test station configurations from PAtools to SystemLink.
  • Test Engineer—Writes PAtools tests that meet the requirements of the product engineer’s test requirements for DUTs. Upload test procedures and DUT configurations from PAtools to SystemLink.
  • Product Engineer—Specifies the devices under test (DUTs) and requests tests be performed on the DUTs. Product engineers might use SystemLink to complete the following tasks:
    • Enter DUT information
    • Submit test requests
    • Review test data
  • Lab Manager—Uses SystemLink to review, complete, and schedule test plans that the product engineer requests. Each test plan is composed of a test procedure, DUT, and test station information uploaded from PAtools. The lab manager also uses SystemLink to monitor the overall health of the battery lab facility.
  • Operator—Sets up, starts, and monitors DUT tests. Operators use SystemLink in the following ways:
    • View DUT test schedules
    • Learn where a DUT is located in storage
    • View tasks to set up the DUTs for testing
    • Start tests
    • Monitor test execution
    • Note A PAtools DUT is equivalent to a SystemLink product. In PAtools, a DUT is a model. In SystemLink, a product is a model. A SystemLink DUT is an instance of the model.