Preliminary communication
NEXT GENERATION CONTROL ARCHITECTURES
Vinko Tomas
Alan Margeta
Abstract
Current generation control systems, including those aboard the “Smart Ships”, place an ever-increasing amount of sensory information in front of the operator, and generally require sharply increased manning in case of control system malfunctions. Furthermore, there is a growing demand for reduction of the number of crewmembers on board a ship. The control system designer faces the challenge of designing a robust and increasingly autonomous automation system that is scalable and affordable. Research suggests these challenges will be met by three - tiered control architecture – a strategic layer that focuses on setting resource goals and priorities for machinery systems based on the ship’s current mission. This will enhance the features of currently available systems by allowing direct addressing of any system component, sensor or actuator from anywhere in a vessel. This permits a system self-reconfiguration on failure or in case of damages to the segments of the system.
Future full integrated control and monitoring systems (FICMS) will be distributed systems that combine control and information functions under the umbrella of one overall management system. An open architecture with backward and forward compatibility provides improved through life support and reduces the risk of obsolescence. Generally, the technology to achieve the vision of an advanced FICMS is available today.
Keywords
Integrated control and monitoring system; ships computerized systems; three - tiered control architecture
Hrčak ID:
6904
URI
Publication date:
15.12.2006.
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