04 / Services
Integration and monitoring
Sensors, controllers and control displays connected to the boat’s systems. Troubleshooting and new functions built around the existing installation.
What sits behind a control screen
A screen can display temperatures, levels, status information and alarms, and let you control different functions on board. Behind it are sensors, actuators, connections and devices that interpret signals and carry out commands, from a programmable logic controller —PLC— to dedicated control modules.
I work on the connections between these parts of the installation: onboard automation and monitoring systems, including integration with navigation electronics. The interface may be an HMI touchscreen —human-machine interface— or a navigation multifunction display, MFD, depending on the capabilities of the system.
Did it work before, or has it never worked properly?
That is one of my first questions. A function that was never commissioned properly calls for a different approach from a system that worked for years and suddenly behaves differently. Establishing what has changed helps decide where to look.
Before considering changes to the program, I check the installation itself: vibration, moisture, contamination, mechanical wear, sensor adjustment, connections and terminals. I also check power supplies, communications and whether settings have changed or been lost. In my experience, many faults can be resolved in these areas without modifying the PLC code.
Understanding the limits of an intervention
Sometimes we first need to identify which controller, central module or “black box” handles a signal to understand the problem. I review the equipment, documentation and available access before defining the work.
If a protected program needs changing, we may need the cooperation of the company that developed it, along with the original project, tools and appropriate access permissions. This needs investigating case by case; I do not assume every system can be reprogrammed. Nor does every fault require work at that level.
Adding functions to the boat you already have
Integration is also about exploring improvements: adding sensors or actuators, expanding inputs and outputs, displaying information on another screen or combining actions into a new operating sequence.
I start with what you want to achieve in everyday use. Then I assess whether the system supports the expansion, which connections and equipment are needed, and how it should work alongside existing functions. Something that looks simple on screen may involve several parts of the installation, so it is worth defining it carefully before starting.
Let’s discuss how you need the system to behave
Tell me what the system does now and what it should do: what you want to measure, what should trigger an action and where you need to view or control it. For a fault, it helps to know when it started and whether it coincided with other work or changes on board.
With equipment models, diagrams and available documentation, we can establish feasibility and scope. We also agree how to check the result: the readings, controls, alarms and sequences involved, and how they operate as part of the overall installation.
Shall we talk about your boat?
Tell me what you need and we can discuss the next step.