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Beckhoff Automation AG
Compact and modular control technology offers advantages
Cunard Cruise Lines, U.K.
A wide range of automation tasks have to be solved on ships, depending on the type of vessel concerned and how it is being used. 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. The challenge for marine industry suppliers lies in solving these various automation tasks with the smallest possible number of different systems. That is where the PC-based automation platform from Beckhoff can help.
Thanks to its scalability, modularity, use of open interfaces, and support for communication standards such as MQTT, OPC UA, Modbus TCP, EtherCAT, and PROFINET, it flexibly adapts to the application concerned. In addition to housing the PLC, it also integrates visualization, measurement technology, engine monitoring, and condition monitoring, and is suitable for both central and decentralized control. The intelligent networking concept and IoT functions allow all the control and monitoring data to be brought together and visualized in one single HMI for the entire ship. Not only that, but the data can even be connected to cloud services.
With their gigantic proportions and complex infrastructure, modern cruise ships are aptly nicknamed “floating cities” – which makes for some tough automation requirements. The vast array of control tasks includes everything from maneuvering the ship, generating and distributing energy, managing the water supply and wastewater, handling the garbage, and cleaning the ballast tank right through to controlling the HVAC, lighting, and entertainment equipment. However, regardless of a ship’s type and purpose, automation also has a key role to play when it comes to implementing efficient and sustainable energy solutions and making ships digital.
Thanks to its modularity and open interfaces, our PC-based controller represents the ideal integrated automation platform for the vast array of control, monitoring, and digitalization tasks. We offer you a choice of Industrial PCs, Embedded PCs, and I/O modules that can be scaled with regard to their performance and design to suit any budget and requirements. Processes can be visualized with ease using TwinCAT HMI. Based on HTML5, the software supports all the latest web browsers. Our product range also includes the software you need to carry out monitoring and analysis, allowing you – for example – to transfer data to cloud-based data stores using IoT protocols and then analyze it with the TwinCAT Analytics Workbench.
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 the perfect temperature, air quality, and lighting inside their suite or cabin, guests also want to be able to interact intuitively with the space. Our PC-based control is the ideal platform for that, as it allows you to integrate the controls for all the ship systems involved: from energy-efficient fan control and dimmable lighting control right through to the control of audio and video equipment. Another important feature is the cabin control’s ability to interact with the housekeeping and hotel booking systems for maximum guest satisfaction.
Beckhoff technology allows the temperature inside the cabin to be controlled in various ways. For instance, it is possible to have the cabin controller communicate directly with the fan coil unit – or, alternatively, you can opt for our modular I/O system for energy-efficient fan and valve control. Using an integrated PC platform to link the cabin controller and ventilation system allows the temperature to be controlled precisely according to demand while also cutting energy consumption in the process. At the same time, it reduces the number of systems and hardware components required. What’s more, intelligent valve drives transmit status information to the cabin controller and, if necessary, alert the crew about alarms or when servicing is required.
Lighting control on a cruise ship is extremely important, not only for the safety of the passengers but also to create a sense of well-being. Passengers take it as a given that they will be able to customize the lighting conditions in their cabin or suite by changing the intensity and color of the light. With PC-based control, you can be confident of always having the right lighting control method for your needs. Either use digital and analog output terminals to control your LED lights directly or, alternatively, opt for the fieldbus interfaces that are available for DALI-2 or DMX. As an experienced building automation partner, we make sure our range includes the right interfaces for controlling any light fitting. The integration of devices and systems from third-party suppliers is equally important to the crew and the guests. The crew needs to have all the operational and cabin occupation data at their fingertips so that they can provide passengers with a smooth experience and optimum service during their stay on board. The tour operator can use cruise apps to deliver all the latest information about the ship, events in progress, or onshore offerings to passengers’ smartphones. Our PC-based yacht, suite, and cabin control system supports all the latest standardized IT and IoT technologies to enable integration and interaction with the cruise operator’s other software. This means, for example, that guests are able to interact with the cabin control system via their smartphone or tablet to enjoy perfect service.
Our PC-based control technology is also more than capable of handling various control tasks on yachts: from controlling the pumps, valves, winches, and Azipod® propulsion system, and generating and monitoring the use of energy, right through to HVAC, lighting control, AV integration, visualization, and voice control tasks. Suitable I/O terminals and PLC functions are available for all control functions, which is the key to efficient and reliable programming. With TwinCAT HMI, all of a yacht’s control functions can be visualized on a single platform.
And thanks to the modular and scalable design of our components, the yacht’s automation system can be individually tailored to the specific requirements. To enable communication with other systems, the relevant protocols are built in. The integrated automation system found on yachts is similar to the one used on large cruise ships. And passenger comfort is also just as important on yachts – this means things like personalized lighting and temperature control or the ability to control AV systems and interact with the crew.
The modular Beckhoff I/O system consists of electronic terminal blocks for direct sensor/actuator wiring and a Bus Coupler, Bus Terminal Controller or Embedded PC to connect with bus systems commonly found in shipbuilding – including EtherCAT, CANope, DeviceNet, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP/RTU, PROFIBUS, PROFINET, OPC UA and RS232/ RS422/RS485. With over 100 signal types, all common sensors and actuators can be seamlessly integrated into the controller. All areas of application, from drive control to measuring equipment, are also covered. The finely granular design with 1 to 16 channels per terminal enables users to tailor the system exactly to their application needs. The use of standard components ensures economical, yet complete solutions, as well as seamless integration into existing systems.
PC-based control integrates extensive measurement and control technology on a universal platform, enabling decentralized acquisition and storage of all process data. These data, such as fill levels, temperatures, pressure, volume flow, voltage, performance, position, velocity, acceleration, speed, torque and direction of rotation, are recorded by the Bus Terminals and processed in the Embedded PC or the higher-level process control system. Not only does the integrated Beckhoff control solution have the advantage of a compact design, it also impresses through lower system costs, simplified engineering and flexibility. Decentralized I/O stations can be connected via Ethernet, fieldbus or radio to enable remote access.
In 1995, Beckhoff launched the Bus Terminal, which has since become one of the most important technology standards in automation technology. This was followed by the development of the fast EtherCAT communication system in 2003. Launched by Beckhoff as an open system, it became a global standard in automation within a few years. With around 100 signal types, an extensive EtherCAT I/O Terminal portfolio is available to users that is extremely well suited for automating every functionality in marine applications in terms of both its performance and variance. The Bus Terminals enable a variety of bus systems such as KNX/EIB, DALI-2, DMX, M-Bus, BACnet MSTP and others to be integrated into the controller. This ensures compatibility and continuity with the established system. Existing and future investments are protected.
In contrast to the Bus Terminals, in which the fieldbus signal is converted in the Bus Coupler to the internal, fieldbus-neutral terminal bus, the EtherCAT protocol is completely preserved up to the individual terminal with EtherCAT Terminals. The EtherCAT I/Os enable further industrial protocols, such as PROFIBUS, CANopen and DeviceNet, but also protocols like DMX and SMPTE-Timecode to be integrated into the controller.
The CX9020 Embedded PC is ideal for small to medium-sized projects in the field of ship automation. With its wide range of communication options, it is ideally suited for use in the HVAC and energy production, automating several cabins or conference rooms and connecting to media technology systems. The CX9020 can be used in many areas of ship automation due to its support for BACnet, OPC UA, MQTT and Modbus TCP/IP as well as the connection of a wide range of subsystems at the Bus Terminal level, such as BACnet MSTP, KNX/EIB, LON, DALI/DALI-2, DMX, MP-Bus, M-Bus, SMI, EnOcean and Modbus. In combination with the TF8050 lighting solution software, the high-performance small controller can be used for house lighting.
The high-performance CX51xx Embedded PC – in conjunction with the TwinCAT 3 Building Automation software (TF8040) – is the optimal control platform for the automation of buildings with many data points. With the CX51xx series, the user obtains a very high-performance BACnet controller, which can easily process more than 2000 BACnet objects. Of course, the CX also provides all other connection options, such as OPC UA, MQTT and Modbus TCP at the IP level, as well as a wide range of interfaces for the integration of 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 superbly with the common protocols via TwinCAT 3. This gives the user 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 cloud connection.
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 for room control, 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 and thus enables modular extension using Beckhoff Bus Terminals. Changes to room automation functions are possible in the TwinCAT development environment and save complex rewiring, as would be the case with wired 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.
