A Good Friend in Fair Weather, A Great Friend
in a Storm—Criteria for Choosing Marine
Computers
In today's world, technology
is advancing at a fast and continuous pace,
and if you don't have the right knowledge and
right equipment you can be left in the dark.
Technological advances have improved our lives
in many different ways, and marine applications
are no exception. For this reason, more and
more devices and electronic units have been
implemented on ships for various applications;
such devices include sensors, radar systems,
conning systems, data acquisition systems, and
navigation information systems.
To effectively integrate,
monitor, and optimize these peripheral devices,
powerful computers are needed. Therefore, selecting
a suitable computer has become a crucial factor
when establishing marine applications. However,
selecting the best computer for your marine
applications can be somewhat complicated. In
this article, we discuss the factors one should
consider when choosing a computer for various
marine applications.
The Marine System
A typical marine application is separated
into different distinct areas, located both
onshore and offshore. Although dispersed, the
areas must be able to link to each other and
have the capacity to be centrally controlled
and monitored.
Harbor
This area contains the onshore application, which requires the connected devices to detect and manage the distance between the ship and harbor. A distance and speed display, infrared ray system, humidity sensor, and a temperature sensor are usually used. All of these devices need to be centrally controlled and monitored by a computer that is powerful and robust.
Open Deck
This area contains the onboard application, which requires connected equipment to monitor and control the lifting of goods on and off the vessel. In most cases, there will be a suspension system and a robot arm system that run different protocols such as CANbus, Ethernet, and serial communications. These protocols need to be monitored and controlled by a powerful and robust computer.
Control Room
This area contains a central control system that connects other devices on the vessel. This is where you will find a wind sensor, time sync unit, and a computer that performs different tasks and communicates with the devices in the Open Deck and Bridge area.
Bridge
This area is the heart and soul of a ship; this is where the captain and his crew navigate the ship. The bridge is often home to a bevy of specialized devices, such as a conning system, GPS system, radar system, ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System), and a navigation information system to help with ship navigation.
Hardware Requirements
The computers deployed in marine applications should be comprised of sophisticated components to meet industry recognized industrial-grade standards and provide reliable system operation for various industrial applications. Generally, the computers should possess the following attributes:
Fanless and Cableless
Using fans and cables in a system increases the number of components and moving parts. This is antithetical to reliable system design, because it adds more potential points of failure and joints to suffer wear and tear. Instead of using fans, computer manufacturers should select components that generate less heat but can still maintain high system performance so that these computers can be reliably used in extremely harsh environments. In addition, a cableless design also reduces the noise produced and ensures reliable and stable operations.
Compact Size with
Rugged Design
Computers used in marine applications should come in a compact size to fit different industrial environments, particularly at field sites where space is limited. In addition, computers with a rugged design and high-quality components allow a device to disdain the environmental hazards.
High Performance
Marine computers should provide high performance computing for a variety of industrial applications. They are required to handle complicated industrial tasks such as data acquisition, data computing and information analysis, and also serve as front-end controllers to reduce the load of the back-end servers. Generally speaking, an x86-based grade computer is the minimum requirement.
Software Requirements
Easy-to-use Platform
Marine computers should be installed with a common and easy-to-use platform so that it's simple for personnel to operate. For example, platforms such as Windows XP, Windows XP Embedded, Windows 7, or the open source Linux system provide a user-friendly platform that can be easily handled. In addition, programmers will also find that it is easier and more convenient to develop related software on familiar platforms.
High Software Integration
Since many devices and
units are used, numerous and various software
applications are implemented in the entire system.
For this reason the computers must provide high
capacity for easy software integration with
these application programs.
Tailor-made Software Applications
A marine application may
require a unique function that can only be accessed
by designated onboard staff, making it necessary
to implement tailor-made software for the specific
application. For example, data acquired from
the remote devices could be highly confidential,
should only be accessed by the captain, and
is password protected. Unique software is necessary
and can be easily implemented through a user-friendly
platform.
Display Signage Requirements
Display signage for marine applications
must meet industrial-grade standards to ensure
reliable performance in harsh ship and harbor
environments. In addition, they need to have
the following features for smooth integration
with the many advanced technologies:
Wide Viewing Angle
This feature guarantees that the displays can be clearly visible from all angles without color washout. This is especially helpful for field site applications where staff mobility is high.
Optical Bonding
This feature helps to increase the contrast ratio, so that display information can be viewed with the best contrast.
Full Dimming
This feature allows brightness
ratio adjustments from 0% to 100%, providing
the greatest possible range for enhanced flexibility
and convenience, especially in harsh environments.
Certifications
The equipment and control units used in marine applications must meet international, industry-recognized marine standards and certifications. This will ensure the safe, reliable, and continuous operation of the applications. Certifications include:
DNV
DNV (Det Norske Veritas)
is an independent foundation whose main purpose
is to safeguard life, property, and the environment.
It has established regulations to govern the
standards for equipment used on ships. For example,
the DNV 2.4 directives regulate the anti-vibration
and anti-shock standards for computers installed
on ships.
IEC 60945
This standard governs
general requirements for maritime navigation
and radio communication equipment and systems.
It contains many testing measures such as power
supply, durability and resistance to environmental
conditions, immunity to electromagnetic environments,
and safety precautions.
IACS E10
IACS (International Association
of Classification Societies) is a non-governmental
organization that is dedicated to ship safety
and clean seas. IACS provides a unique contribution
to maritime safety and regulations through technical
support, compliance verification, and research
and development. IACS UR E10 provides the standards
concerning navigation to unify environmental
test specification as well as regulations for
maritime electrical control and instrumentation
equipment and marine automatic steering systems.
ECDIS
ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display & Information System) color calibration compliance ensures precise positioning information and intuitive route and navigation planning functions to improve the safety and efficiency of seagoing vessels. An ECDIS-compliant computer can help mariners handle various navigation-related tasks. ECDIS digital charts, displays, and data make marine navigation easy and reliable.
Conclusion
Why settle for average performing
marine applications when you can have maximum
performance? Follow the guidelines presented
here and be on your way to safe and reliable
marine applications that perform at full capacity.
For more information, visit us at http://www.moxa.com/Event/Sys/2009/Marine/Index.htm
or visit http://www.moxa.com/support/request_catalog_detail.aspx?r_id=2344
to download our marine white paper.
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