Test and measurement is one of the final major steps in getting a product out the door, after sometimes endless concept iterations and design changes. While test and measurement engineers often do not take much of the credit for getting an innovative product out the door, their work is nevertheless crucial in making sure a product works the way it is supposed to and will not suddenly fail in the field, which is not only bad for the end user but a black mark for the company creating the product.

With design cycles getting tighter and the range of products continuing to broaden, test and measurement plays a more important role than ever. Test instruments now need to keep up with the high signal speeds in wireless and other high frequency applications. Software-defined testing is gaining in use as more complex test protocols require test methods and parameters to be constantly updated. And, the rapid growth of technology in sectors such as healthcare means engineers must adapt to the testing needs of products in these areas.

The following gallery shows some of the trends in test and measurement.

Spencer Chin is a Senior Editor for Design News covering the electronics beat. He has many years of experience covering developments in components, semiconductors, subsystems, power, and other facets of electronics from both a business/supply-chain and technology perspective. He can be reached at [email protected].