MATE: A Methodology for Connecting Automatic Test Equipment in Industry 4.0

ABSTRACT The growing complexity of intelligent systems with embedded boards has made Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) a critical component of Industry 4.0 ecosystems. However, legacy communication protocols and isolated testing processes hinder interoperability, slow down automation, and compromise data security. In this work, we propose MATE: a unified framework to integrate ATE systems into Industry 4.0, leveraging Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) and ServiceOriented Architecture (SOA) principles. Building on our previous Companion Specification for ATE, we xtend it to incorporate secure and automated firmware management, and we validate the combined solution in a real-world production scenario. MATE ensures secure and interoperable communication between ATE and other industrial assets, with an architecture designed to support scaling. By bridging conceptual design with practical implementation, this work provides a robust foundation for fully integrating ATE into manufacturing systems.