Electronics Jig | Decade Resistance Box
The TestBot DRB simulates resistive sensors and injects electrical faults into embedded systems under test, covering 0.1Ω to 100KΩ with fixed, ramp, and pulse output modes over CAN bus.
Automotive ECUs and industrial controllers read sensors such as fuel level, coolant temperature, throttle position, and oil pressure as resistance values from NTC thermistors, RTDs, or potentiometric sensors. During bench validation, engineers need those same values on demand without depending on a real tank, probe, or mechanical assembly. A decade resistance box replaces the physical sensor and presents an exact resistance value under software control, so teams can run repeatable analog input, diagnostic, and regression tests.
The TestBot DRB is a CAN-controlled programmable decade resistance box built for embedded hardware and ECU bench testing. It simulates resistive sensors such as NTC thermistors, fuel level senders, throttle position sensors, and PT100/PT1000 RTDs while also injecting open-circuit and short-circuit faults.
Engineers can command fixed resistance values or dynamic ramp and pulse profiles directly from TestBot automation sequences, then validate ECU responses, DTC behaviour, and calibration logic with timestamped reports.
Covers common automotive and industrial sensor spans from low-ohm senders to high-resistance thermistors.
Verifies the ECU detects sensor disconnect and short-to-line conditions correctly during diagnostics testing.
Exercises both steady-state calibration points and long-duration sensor drift or intermittent fault scenarios.
Runs alongside CAN, UDS, BLE, and WiFi agents inside the same automated sequence and reporting workflow.
Traditional programmable resistors are usually built for lab calibration, not automated embedded validation. The DRB is bench-native: CAN-connected, automation-ready, and designed around real ECU sensor and fault-injection workflows.
Book a DemoConnects through a DB-9 CAN interface with configurable CAN ID and baud rate through a DBC-driven workflow.
Simulates drifting sensors, intermittent connector faults, or cyclic resistance sweeps without manual intervention.
Use the 5-key keypad and LCD during bench debug, then switch to CAN mode for unattended automation runs.
Inject open-circuit, short-circuit, and out-of-range conditions to validate DTC detection and recovery logic.
An IP40 enclosure with reinforced corner guards is suited for everyday engineering benches instead of one-off calibration setups.
Electrical, interface, and operating characteristics for bench integration.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Resistance range | 0.1Ω - 100KΩ |
| Resolution | 0.1Ω |
| Accuracy | ±0.1Ω across full range at 25°C |
| Output terminals | 4 mm banana jacks: (+) and (-) |
| Host interface | CAN bus via DB-9 connector |
| Supported baud rates | 125 Kbps / 250 Kbps / 500 Kbps / 1 Mbps |
| CAN configuration | DBC file with configurable ID and baud rate |
| Operating modes | Manual keypad mode / CAN-controlled remote mode |
| Output patterns | Fixed, Ramp, Pulse, Cyclic |
| Fault simulation | Open circuit / Short circuit (≤0.5Ω) |
| RTD simulation | PT100 / PT1000 per IEC 60751, -40°C to +150°C |
| Display | Graphical LCD, minimum 4 lines |
| Keypad | 5-key navigation pad |
| Power supply | External 12V DC adapter included |
| Controller | NXP LPC55S16, ARM Cortex-M33 |
| Switching time | ≤100 ms from CAN command to stable output |
| Operating temperature | 0°C to +50°C |
| Enclosure | IP40 rated with reinforced corner guards |
From analog input calibration to overnight regression runs, the DRB helps teams replace manual sensor setups with repeatable programmable resistance profiles.
Replace coolant temperature sensors, fuel level senders, throttle position sensors, oil pressure senders, or ambient thermistors with exact commanded resistance values.
Validate ECU diagnostics by commanding open-circuit, short-circuit, or out-of-range faults and checking DTC set, read, and clear behaviour.
Run unattended ramp sweeps overnight and capture each resistance step, ECU response, and pass/fail result in TestBot reports.
Command PT100 and PT1000 equivalents directly from temperature setpoints to verify calibration across the operating range.
Configure two resistance values, two time intervals, and a cycle duration to generate deterministic sensor profiles for automated testing.
Configure Set resistance values, patterns, CAN ID, and baud rate in the DRB Agent or by importing the DBC.
Execute Run DRB commands inside the same TestBot sequence as CAN, UDS, BLE, WiFi, or other validation steps.
Report Generate HTML, PDF, or Excel reports with step-level resistance commands, DUT responses, timestamps, and pass/fail status.
The DRB is positioned for embedded benches that need CAN-native control, pattern generation, and direct automation-framework integration.
| Feature | TestBot DRB | IET Labs PRS-330 | Pickering PXI | Manual Decade Box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN bus interface | Native | No | No | No |
| Ramp / pulse patterns | Yes | No | No | No |
| Standalone operation | Yes | Yes | Needs chassis | Yes |
| Open / short fault simulation | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| RTD simulation | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Test automation integration | Native TestBot | No | No | No |
| Manual HMI | LCD + keypad | Yes | No | Yes |
| Automotive-native workflow | CAN DBC | No | Partial | No |
| Entry price | $420 | ~$2,000+ | ~$5,000+ plus chassis | $50-$500 |
Hardware is purchased once. The DRB Agent licence is renewed annually per station. No proprietary chassis is required, and teams that already own a CAN adapter can add the DRB without rebuilding the bench.
Answers to the questions teams usually ask before adding the DRB to an ECU or embedded hardware bench.
A decade resistance box replaces a physical resistive sensor on the bench with a precise programmable resistance value, letting engineers test analog inputs, diagnostic logic, and calibration behaviour repeatably.
Replace hours of manual bench work with CAN-controlled resistance sequences, repeatable fault injection, and audit-ready TestBot reporting after every firmware build.