Dwight: As you may be aware, there is a major push to use COTS (commercial off-the- shelf) hardware in military and space systems for non-critical (i.e., not life threatening or the equivalent for non-repairable spaceborne systems). The clear implication is that cool-running, functionally-efficient, state-of-the- art (i.e., designed and built with current, leading-edge technology) commercial designs are respectable in performance AND of high quality, while costing less than full mil-spec systems.
With the exception of the actual test schedule/time, IF your designers have PROPERLY done their job AND your prototype construction is representative of your production quality for device heatsinking (or other cooling method) and solder connections, your company should benefit from HALT/HASS testing. It will serve to alert managers to incompetent designers and also (very importantly) avoid the reputation- and cost-damaging effects of multiple field failures. Field failures always directly affect a company's bottom-line profits. I recommend a full speed ahead attitude with the expectation that some weaknesses that NEED CORRECTING will be identified. Such testing gives designers a better perspective on the end use of the hardware, rather than just thinking in ones and zeros and only being "terminal literate" (one of my favorite phrases). Respectable hardware quality in the marketplace generally brings both professional AND monetary rewards to a company (Hewlett-Packard test and measurement equipment comes to mind). Good Engineering to you, Mike Conn Owner/Principal Consultant Mikon Consulting
