PC Operator Workstation Uniquely Suited For Maritime Use

For the maritime industry, the advent onboard controls, formerly a hodge- tion of the PC and related control archiof the personal computer and related podge of nonstandard analog and digital tectures.

control systems have been a boon, systems, now are beginning to benefit "Open" systems (PC industry termi- Bridge, propulsion and a host of other from the compactness and standardiza- nology for a variety of compatibility standards) and the familiar Windows user interface make PC-based systems relatively easy to integrate, install, maintain and use. From bridge and deck stations to the engine room and the hold, the PC is here to stay.

But between the familiar "pizza box" or "tower" design of commercial PC s and the rugged models that can stand up to the rigors of onboard operation lies a wide gulf. Maritime applications are among the most challenging in the world, far exceeding the rigors of industrial environments. Extremes of temperature, humidity, corrosive salt water, shock and vibration can quickly ruin what otherwise is a highly ruggedized operator interface of sophisticated design.

In maritime applications, the same conditions which make onboard control systems susceptible to failure often come accompanied by difficult operator/user conditions. Specialized keyboards and data entry aids, self-adjusting displays and other human factorrelated design considerations are critical when operators must contend with extremes of temperature, vibration and ocean conditions while carrying out complex operating tasks.

On the bridge, where accurate assessment of data and split-second decision making are imperative, the need for display "readability" and system reliability are most apparent. In the tight, "data intensive" environment at the nerve center of any ship, space comes at a premium. In such circumstances, size does count, and the less of it, the better. When "heads up" space is all that's available, tight integration of display (self adjusting hi-brite flat panels work best for a variety of reasons) and computer make real sense.

Further complicating design requirements, radio frequency interference (RFI) generated by communications systems ranging from radar to cell phones can impact or even disable sensitive bridge computers. Design knowhow vital to excluding RFI penetration (and its corollary, not creating it) is important, yet is often minimized or overlooked altogether as a specification. Below decks, the endless pounding created by propulsion systems and waves, when combined with moisture, fumes and airborne contaminants, create more reliability issues for operator interface designers. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) emitted by generators, compressors and pumps, introduces even more reliability problems. On-deck operator workstations present their own special considerations; PC-based operator interface design solutions are often overlooked altogether because of the enormously punishing environment to which they are subjected. But cargo handling and monitoring, heavy equipment control and other applications can benefit from the graphical display and operator I/O options offered by PC-based systems.

For those who design or use onboard control systems, ruggedness, reliability and ease of use are critical considerations. Azonix Corporation, based in Billerica, Massachusetts, successfully deals with such complexities, designing and building PC-based navigation, bridge control and below decks operator interfaces for a variety of military and civilian clients.

Azonix's market position is supported by two key factors: 1) the company's dedication to designing and manufacturing operator workstations and displays for extreme industrial environments and; 2) modular product design and adaptive engineering services. For clients requiring uniquely adapted systems in quantities of 10s or 100s, the combination of modular design (reliable, upgradeable, long product life) and adaptive engineering (knowledgeable, innovative, application specific) represents real value.

In 1991, after a decade of building high-precision measurement and control systems, Azonix began to develop PCbased computers for extreme environment computing, first making operator workstations for the offshore oil exploration and development marketplace.

Happily, oil exploration and maritime application requirements are similar in almost all respects.

ProPanel, Azonix's flagship workstation product, was built from the first as an integrated unit combining all the components of a PC in a brazed metal, fully sealed enclosure. At the same time, sealing creates an apparent contradiction to reliable operation: heat build up is the Number 1 cause of electrical system failure.

Azonix deals with the heat factor by marshaling a variety of innovative design conventions to the task. Flatpanel, LCD computer displays, for instance, allow for large format, high resolution and exceptional brightness (critical for daylight operation), with very low power consumption. Integral radiating fins built into the exterior of ProPanel cases dissipate otherwise destructive heat. Total power requirements one-third or less wattage of the current required by traditional PC s. Noting the variety of hostile influences and number of engineered features that Azonix has built into its maritime operator workstations, it is reasonable to conclude system standards must exceed even the most challenging of those associated with land-based industrial applications.

Recognizing this, Azonix has chosen to place its offshore oil exploration, military and maritime experience at the disposal of naval architects, engineers and fleet owners. The ProPanel operator workstation/display, "bred to the ocean" is uniquely suited to a wide variety of maritime applications. Perhaps one of them is yours.