Built-in test equipment: Vital parts of an AWS often include components whose faulty operation or failure would seriously degrade or render useless the principal output. The inclusion of circuits to monitor automatically these components’ status is an effective means of continuously controlling their performance during operation. Examples are: a power-failure detector which restarts the processor and continues the AWS function after a power failure; a “watchdog” timer to monitor the proper operation of microprocessors; and test circuits for monitoring the operation of station subsystems such as battery voltage and charger operation, aspirators (temperature and humidity screens), A/D converters, heaters, etc. Status information for quality-control and maintenance purposes. Guidance on preparing a functional specification for the AWS system is available in Part I of WMO (1997).
Built-in test equipment: Vital parts of an AWS often include components whose faulty operation or failure would seriously degrade or render useless the principal output. The inclusion of circuits to monitor automatically these components’ status is an effective means of continuously controlling their performance during operation. Examples are: a power-failure detector which restarts the processor and continues the AWS function after a power failure; a “watchdog” timer to monitor the proper operation of microprocessors; and test circuits for monitoring the operation of station subsystems such as battery voltage and charger operation, aspirators (temperature and humidity screens), A/D converters, heaters, etc. Status information for quality-control and maintenance purposes. Guidance on preparing a functional specification for the AWS system is available in Part I of WMO (1997).
8_II_1_en_for_EdBd.docx