ASSET Case Study Follow-Up: Sustained Value for BAE Systems (2025)
In 2019, ASSET InterTech collaborated with BAE Systems to address critical challenges in their FPGA programming process. The original case study highlighted the remarkable reduction in programming time from 11 hours to just 3.3 minutes, saving BAE Systems substantial time and resources. This follow-up case study in 2025, demonstrates that the solution implemented six years ago continues to provide significant value and reliability to BAE Systems.
Background
BAE Systems, a leading technology company, faced significant challenges with their FPGA programming process. The standard SPI action took an excessive 11 hours to program the flash memory, which was not sustainable for their operations.
The Challenge
BAE Systems needed a reliable and efficient solution to reduce the programming time and ensure the reliability of the FPGA programming process. The existing process was not only time-consuming but also prone to errors, causing significant delays and potential redesigns of test platforms. The client was under pressure to resolve these issues within a week to avoid switching to an alternative plan that involved redesigning the test platforms and adding vendor programming pods to all stands.
The Solution
ASSET InterTech, a leader in boundary-scan (JTAG) and embedded instrumentation, was approached to address this critical issue. The collaboration involved key personnel from both organizations, including the Program Director from BAE Systems and the team at ASSET InterTech.
- Initial Diagnosis and Communication:
– The Program Director reported the issue of the flash programming process hanging and the excessive time required for programming the flash memory.
– The team at ASSET InterTech began by diagnosing the problem, asking detailed questions about the setup, including the controller used and the specific actions that were hanging. - Technical Adjustments:
– The Program Director made several adjustments, such as changing the action to check only the device ID.
– The team at ASSET InterTech suggested removing the image file from the action to separate the parsing of the Intel Hex file and communications with the SPI IP instrument. - Development and Testing:
– The development team at ASSET InterTech was involved to provide a deeper technical analysis and potential fixes.
– After several iterations and adjustments, including modifying file and register locations, the team was able to find a reliable solution.
The Results
The collaborative efforts between BAE Systems and ASSET InterTech led to a significant breakthrough. The programming time was reduced from 11 hours to just 3.3 minutes, a remarkable improvement that saved BAE Systems substantial time and resources.
Follow-Up in 2025
In 2025, we revisited the project to assess the long-term impact and sustained value of the solution implemented by ASSET InterTech. The solution continues to work effectively, providing BAE Systems with reliable and efficient FPGA programming.
Updated contributions included:
– Reducing the Flash programming time from over 20 hours to approximately 5 minutes by remapping the SYSCLK to the correct pin.
– Collaborating with ASSET on upgrading ETG versions, converting file formats, and implementing workarounds for Flash verification issues.
The sustained value of the solution is evident in the continued reliability and efficiency of BAE Systems’ operations. The collaboration has proven to be a long-term success, with the solution implemented six years ago still providing significant benefits.
Conclusion
This follow-up case study highlights the importance of collaboration and technical expertise in solving complex engineering challenges. ASSET InterTech’s proactive approach, technical adjustments, and dedicated support played a crucial role in resolving FPGA programming issues. The successful reduction in programming time not only saved time and money but also ensured the reliability and efficiency of operations. The solution implemented in 2019, continues to provide significant value and reliability to BAE Systems in 2025.
