The Modern Battery Lab

The Modern Battery Lab combines the advanced features of the PAtools Battery Lab Software with the power of SystemLink Enterprise to enable 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 PAtools Battery Software Suite System

PAtools Battery Software Suite is tailored for EV battery test stations, accommodating various test devices such as battery cells, modules, and packs.

The following are typical components of a single battery test station that uses PAtools Battery Software Suite as a starting point for building a test system.

Figure 1. System Overview: Mandatory and Optional Components
Table 3. Components of a PAtools Battery Software Suite System
Position Component Notes


DUT

The device under test.
1

Facility Power Interface

Provides the power from the facility to the test system.
2

Cycler Cabinet

Drives charge and discharge cycles of the DUT.
3

Control Cabinet

Contains the PXI controller that runs the PAtools testing software and other protective electronic components.
4

Climate Chamber

Encloses a space to enable the manipulation of temperature and humidity conditions during a controlled test.
5

DC Connection Box

Connects the DUT to the power and measurement equipment.
6

Test Space

Area where the test occurs.
7

Measurement Rack

Contains measurement equipment that acquires test data from the DUT.
8

Water Conditioning Unit

Circulates a liquid coolant to keep the system within acceptable temperatures.
9

Test Monitoring Station

Provides a location to monitor and interact with the test using SystemLink or PAtools.

Components of a Modern Battery Lab

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

  • Test Stations—Equipment required for an instance of testing. Each test station has a PXI that is configured to run PAtools tests.
  • Engineering PCs—PCs used by engineers to perform various battery test tasks. Some of the Engineering PCs run the PAtools Battery Software Suite.
  • Microsoft SQL Server—Database management system for the PAtools databases.
  • NI SystemLink Enterprise—Scalable, self-hosted enterprise software for managing product validation, production 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.

    • Modern Battery Lab Workflow

    There are several roles that participate in the Modern Battery Lab workflow. Depending on the lab, some of these roles may be performed by the same person or split between multiple people.

  • Product Engineer—Specifies the devices under test (DUTs) and requests tests be performed on the DUTs. Product engineers may use SystemLink to enter DUT information, submit test requests, monitor test execution, and review test data.
  • Integrator—Designs the lab layout. Integrators also set up the Modern Battery Lab systems, test station hardware, and test station software to enable PAtools tests to be written in PAtools and executed from SystemLink. 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.
  • Lab Manager—Uses SystemLink to review, complete, and schedule test plans that the product engineer requests. Each test plan is created from the 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 to view DUT test schedules, learn where a DUT is located in storage, view tasks to set up the DUTs for testing, start tests, and 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 and a DUT is an instance of the model.