When you have a new prototype, you don't just throw in some software and test that it "works".

You also have to try to quantify "how good" it works. So you need to check the signals, look at timing, levels, noise, ... and verify if the prototype is good enough or if some changes needs to be made. Besides looking at individual signals on the prototype, you also measures radiated noise, and sensitivity to external radiation.

Lots of things to test before accepting final production. For school projects, it's enough to show in front of the class - or to the teacher - that the project works well in a controlled environment. That level may be good enough as "proof of concept" for real products, but not good enough for commercial products for industrial, automotive or home/office use.