The landscape of human interaction with devices is a constantly changing one. We engage with applications and devices using multiple interfaces, which impacts how applications are eventually designed and tested. Application testing in a real-world tactile environment becomes a critical requirement for success. Why is it essential to involve robots to carry out such test cases? Let’s find out!
With the adoption of ever-increasingly powerful semiconductors and reduced form size, we see a constant stream of touch panels and point-of-sale devices with barcode scanners. Hardly any industry has been untouched by adopting smart panels and touch interfaces. Whether it’s an air conditioning unit, an assembly line control panel, or a panel cluster on avionics, HMI or Human Machine interfaces are omnipresent.
One also stands to witness an exponential growth in smart devices. For instance, the global smart home market size was valued at USD 101.07 billion in 2023. The market is projected to grow from USD 121.59 billion in 2024 to USD 633.20 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 22.9% during the forecast period. Therefore, it is pertinent that these types of devices, interfaces, and panel-enabled devices function seamlessly.
A comprehensive array of test cases ensures the robustness of the underlying software and validates the build interface.
In the fast-paced world of agile development, maintaining robust test coverage while adhering to tight sprint cycles is a constant challenge. Traditional manual testing methods are time-consuming and prone to human error.
Product testing robots come into play to circumvent these challenges, revolutionizing how companies approach quality assurance and continuous integration.
The Need for Robotics in Testing
Agile development thrives on rapid iterations and continuous feedback, making efficient testing a critical process component. However, manual testing can become a bottleneck, especially when dealing with complex systems like Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI), Point of Sale (POS) systems, smart meters, mobile applications, and display panels.
Manual testing is labor-intensive and susceptible to inconsistencies and missed defects, which can delay releases and affect product quality.
Robot testing is sometimes the only feasible way to ensure comprehensive and reliable results. Robots can simulate various human interactions with HMIs, such as pressing buttons and adjusting controls, in a consistent and repeatable manner. This level of precision and repetition is difficult to achieve with manual testing.
Testing POS systems involves simulating numerous transactions, scanning items, and processing payments. Various gestures are involved, and Robots can perform these tasks tirelessly, ensuring the system can handle real-world usage scenarios without errors.
Mobile application testing involves a wide array of devices and operating systems, and mobile app testing requires extensive coverage. There are instances where an application simulation will not capture all use cases, especially if a hardware switch on the phone is involved in the use case one is testing.
Manipulating displays on display panels cannot be consistently used by only human testers. Ensuring that display panels render graphics correctly and respond accurately to user inputs requires precise and repetitive testing.
Robots can consistently simulate touch, swipe, and multi-touch gestures, which is challenging to achieve manually.
Key Benefits of Robot Testing
Test automation robots are designed to be user-friendly, allowing anyone with basic computer knowledge to operate them using an accompanying software suite. This accessibility ensures teams can rely on programmable robots to deliver error-free output without extensive training.
Robotic testing provides 12-to-20 times more productive hours with almost zero downtime than conventional testing methods. This significant productivity boost helps teams meet tight deadlines and maintain high-quality standards. Another critical benefit is scalability.
Robots can be delivered as a service, too. Inbuilt capabilities like remote and cloud operations minimize dependencies on geography, people, or existing systems. This scalability ensures that testing can be efficiently expanded without logistical constraints.
When these automated systems operate in unison, a treasure trove of data is generated when using automated test cases run by robots; access to this data and other metrics through a centralized dashboard allows for informed decision-making.
This data-driven approach enhances the ability to monitor and improve testing processes continuously. By reducing regression testing cycle times by up to 70%, robotic testing enables faster product releases, providing an early mover advantage and better market penetration.
This accelerated timeline is crucial in the competitive tech landscape. Finally, Robotic testing can lead to up to 90% cost reduction compared to conventional methods and up to 35% reduction in aftermarket overheads. These savings make it a financially viable option for organizations looking to optimize their testing processes.
By leveraging these capabilities, robotic testing addresses the limitations of manual testing, ensuring comprehensive and reliable results that align with the demands of agile development.
In the age of agile development, where speed and quality are paramount, robotics in product testing provides a critical advantage. By automating repetitive and complex testing tasks, robots enable continuous integration and delivery, ensuring that products are reliable and of high quality.
Adopting Robots in the agile development lifecycle to carry out testing not only enhances the efficiency of the development process but also ensures that products meet the high standards expected by customers.
For more insights on integrating robotics in product testing and its impact on agile development, check out the Robotic Industry Blog. These articles provide detailed information on how robotics transform the testing landscape and why they are essential for modern software development.
By leveraging the power of robotics, organizations can achieve superior test coverage, faster feedback, and more reliable products, ultimately driving success in the competitive world of agile development.
