Low-cost embedded architecture for repeatable time control in electronic test stations

Arquitectura embebida de bajo costo para el control temporal repetible en estaciones de prueba electrónica

Arquitetura embarcada de baixo custo para o controle temporal repetível em estações de teste eletrônico

Crespo-Torres, Emiliano - Domínguez-Cruz, René Fernando - Garza-Alvarado, Leopoldo Asael - Zamora-González, Pedro Edén - Fuentes-Rubio, Yadira Aracely
Detalles Bibliográficos
2026
Control temporal repetible
Sistemas embebidos
Estaciones de prueba electrónica
Automatización industrial
Sistemas de bajo costo
Repeatable time control
Embedded systems
Electronic test stations
Industrial automation
Low-cost systems
Controle temporal repetível
Sistemas embarcados
Estações de teste eletrônico
Automação industrial
Sistemas de baixo custo
Español
Universidad de Montevideo
REDUM
https://revistas.um.edu.uy/index.php/ingenieria/article/view/1985
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12806/3452
Acceso abierto
Atribución 4.0 Internacional
Resumen:
Sumario:Automation of electronic test stations is often constrained by manual timing control, which introduces operator-dependent variability, extended cycle durations, and increased rework. This study presents a low-cost embedded system for automated and repeatable time control in electronic test stations, designed to ensure consistent cycle termination, integrated visual feedback, and automatic power disconnection. The proposed architecture is based on a microcontroller platform implemented with widely available components to guarantee simplicity and scalability. The system was technically characterized to evaluate timing accuracy, repeatability, and actuation consistency under real industrial conditions. Experimental results obtained from 120 test cycles over a four-week period show stable cycle-to-cycle behavior, with a mean cycle time of 30.02 min, a standard deviation of 0.03 min, and a maximum absolute timing error below 0.08 min relative to the programmed duration. Operational validation showed a reduction in out-of-time events from 20% to 4%, as well as decreases in rework frequency and station downtime. The results indicate that the proposed system provides consistent and repeatable timing control at the minute scale, reducing operator-dependent variability while maintaining lower complexity and cost than conventional industrial automation platforms.