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Beckhoff Automation Pvt. Ltd.
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Cunard Cruise Lines, U.K.
Compact and modular control technology offers advantages
Cunard Cruise Lines, U.K.
Compact and modular control technology offers advantages
A lot of automation tasks have to be solved on ships. As well as covering aspects relating to controllers, operating equipment, and machine control, these tasks even extend to cargo handling systems. Many of the tasks encountered on yachts and cruise ships resemble those from the area of building automation, such as lighting control or individual room control (although in this case, it is the cabin that is being individually controlled). Within this context, the focus is on implementing efficient and sustainable energy solutions and reducing CO2 emissions. However, alongside this, digitalization is also coming to play an increasingly important role in making shipping processes and systems more sustainable and economically efficient.
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Modern cruise ships are “floating cities” with high automation requirements. Typical control tasks include everything from maneuvering the ship, distributing energy and managing the water supply and wastewater to controlling the HVAC, illumination, and entertainment equipment. With its modularity and open interfaces, our PC-based control represents the ideal integrated automation platform for the vast array of control, monitoring, and digitalization tasks on ships. We offer you a choice of controllers and I/O modules that can be scaled with regard to their performance and design to suit any budget and requirements.
Modern automation systems for yacht and cruise ship suites and cabins have a vital role to play in reconciling the competing demands of energy savings and maximum comfort for guests. As well as expecting perfect ambient conditions inside their cabin, guests also want to be able to interact intuitively with the space. PC-based control is the ideal platform for that, as it allows you to integrate the controls for all the technical systems involved: from energy-efficient fan control and dimmable lighting control right through to the control of AV equipment. The cabin control’s ability to interact with the housekeeping and hotel booking systems is also guaranteed.
The modular Beckhoff Bus Terminals are suitable for connecting sensors, actuators, or fieldbus interfaces. They are either connected directly to the embedded controllers or connected to a panel PC to enable decentralized control via a bus coupler. All fieldbuses commonly used in shipbuilding, such as EtherCAT, CANopen, DeviceNet®, EtherNet/IP™, Modbus TCP/RTU, PROFIBUS, PROFINET as well as various serial-based communication systems such as RS232/RS422/RS485, are supported. With over 100 signal types, all common sensors, fans, pumps, valves, and motors can be seamlessly integrated into the PC controller. All areas of application, from drive control to measuring equipment, are covered.
As space for control cabinets is generally limited on ships, the finely granular set-up with 1 to 16 channels per terminal allows the control system to be tailored precisely to the requirements in question. The use of standard components ensures an economical overall solution as well as seamless integration into existing systems.
Bus terminals certified for shipbuilding:
In 1995, Beckhoff launched the Bus Terminal, which has since become one of the most important technology standards in automation technology. This was followed in 2003 by the development of EtherCAT, the extremely fast fieldbus. Launched by Beckhoff as an open system, it became a global standard in automation within a few years.
The extensive EtherCAT I/O Terminals portfolio makes it easy to automate any functionality in the maritime industry. In addition to connecting standard signals, sensors, and actuators, the EtherCAT Terminals enable the integration of other bus systems, such as PROFINET, PROFIBUS, DALI-2, DMX, and BACnet-MS/TP, into the controller. This ensures compatibility and continuity with established systems. One of the main features of EtherCAT and the EtherCAT I/O Terminals is the support of a redundant ring topology. As a result, shipbuilders can create a control system that features highly reliable fieldbus communication as well as flawless function and operation.
EtherCAT Terminals certified for shipbuilding:
With its wide range of communication options, the CX9020 Embedded PC is ideal for controlling HVAC systems, power generation, automating ship cabins and conference rooms, or integrating media technology systems. With its support for BACnet, OPC UA, MQTT, and Modbus TCP/IP as well as the integration of a wide range of subsystems at bus-terminal level, such as BACnet MSTP, KNX/EIB, LON, DALI/DALI-2, DMX, MP-Bus, M-Bus, SMI, EnOcean®, and Modbus, the CX9020 is suitable for many areas of ship automation. In combination with the TF8050 lighting solution software, the high-performance small controller can be used to illuminate entire halls.
The high-performance CX51xx Embedded PC is the ideal controller for automating buildings or ships with many data points. With the CX51xx series, you obtain a very high-performance BACnet controller, with which you can easily process more than 2,000 BACnet objects. The CX also offers all other integration options, such as OPC UA, MQTT, and Modbus TCP at IP level. What’s more, a wide range of interfaces are available for integrating subsystems such as BACnet MSTP, KNX/EIB, LON, DALI/DALI-2, DMX, MP-Bus, M-Bus, SMI, EnOcean®, and Modbus at the bus-terminal level.
A DVI-I interface allows the CX51xx to be connected to a Beckhoff panel for operation and monitoring. The performance class of the CX51xx allows an HMI to run in addition to the PLC. The media world can also be integrated with the common protocols via TwinCAT 3. This gives you a controller that covers the entire spectrum in the building, from the control of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to room automation and from energy measurement to the cloud connection.
Beckhoff offers a comprehensive portfolio of 1- and 3-phase DIN rail power supplies with output currents from 2.5 A to 40 A. Some of the power supplies are certified for use in the maritime sector.
All series convince with universally high efficiencies and low heat losses. This has a positive effect on the lifetime and reliability of the power supply units and reduced energy costs. All power supplies are equipped with an EtherCAT interface. Extensive measurement and internal device data can be processed directly by the control by integrating EtherCAT technology. This ensures reliable and consistent monitoring – the operating status can be perfectly analyzed and errors detected at an early stage. In doing so, TwinCAT supports application-oriented parameterization, reading and resetting of the device-internal values.
Power supplies certified for shipbuilding:
The BC9191 room controller integrates various automation functions in a single module and thus represents a compact and efficient solution in the price-sensitive field of room control. Pre-installed standard functionalities cover all necessary functions, thus simplifying commissioning. In addition to integrated I/O signals and a sub bus connection for room control units, the BC9191 has a K-bus interface for modular function extension by adding further bus terminals. Changes to room automation functions are possible in the TwinCAT development environment and save complex rewiring, as would be the case with conventional controllers. As a freely programmable Ethernet controller the BC9191 can also be used as decentralized intelligence and thus offers the user the greatest possible flexibility in the construction of system-spanning, energy-efficient room automation.
Around 70% of the waste in waters sinks to the bottom of the oceans or decomposes into micro- and nanoplastics – in total several 10 million tons. Based on an AI-based system, the MAELSTROM research project developed an autonomous robot for waters up to 20 meters deep that selectively identifies and collects objects. The system, which is automated with PC-based control, passed its test run in the canals of Venice in September 2022.
Tellus, Sweden’s largest hybrid ferry, can safely transport up to 297 passengers and 80 cars per trip on the roughly 2 km long Gullmarsleden link between the towns of Uddevalla and Lysekil. The link is considered one of Sweden’s busiest sea routes, accommodating over 100,000 vehicles per month. Two specialist companies have now joined forces to ensure that the ship continues to offer quick and reliable transportation: Danfoss Editron, the Finnish supplier to shipbuilders that specializes in electric drive solutions, and Beckhoff, which supplies PC-based controls for the automation and monitoring of the hybrid diesel/electric drive system.
Loisto Pro Oy, headquartered in Turku, Finland, is a systems integrator with 20 years’ experience in the shipbuilding sector. The company specializes above all in smart cabin automation solutions and lighting installations for yachts and cruise ships. Loisto’s innovative solution superioHUB® is for better energy efficiency, easier commissioning and maintenance, and greater passenger comfort. Modular PC-based control technology from Beckhoff perfectly complements the system entity.
Baltic Yachts Oy AB LTD, formed in 1973 and headquartered in Jakobstad, Finland, lays claim to being the world’s leading builder of advanced, composite yachts. Its highly qualified workforce – currently, some 250 strong – combines leading-edge marine technology with traditional craftsmanship to create award-winning yachts. PC-based control technology from Beckhoff is playing a substantial role in helping the yacht maker ensure that customers enjoy the highest levels of comfort while sailing.
Industrial control technology proves seaworthiness in harsh sailboat race conditions
As specialists for PC-based control technology, Beckhoff has demonstrated at SMM how shipping companies, shipyards and suppliers can achieve cost advantages with future-proof smart cabin control concepts.
