Signal Processing News

Like every sector of cargo and passenger shipping, “digitalization”—where computerized processes are replacing onboard routines previously handled manually— is an ongoing trend coastwise, on the waterways and harbors. Regulatory compliance, especially with Subchapter M for towing vessels, has also driven choices of onboard equipment with digital interfaces to software and online platforms for record-keeping and for generating inputs for forms and documents.Improved performance has also shaped the capabilities of equipment in the wheelhouse and the view from the bridge.

With autonomous navigation and remote electronics management, Furuno is on a digital transformation journey to help revolutionize the maritime industry. Matt Wood, National Sales Manager, Furuno USA takes a deeper dive.In 1938, Kiyotaka Furuno founded Furuno Electric Shokai Ltd., the predecessor of Furuno Electric Company. Today Furuno is best known as a radar and navigation company with nearly 90 percent of its business in the maritime sector. “We are still principally a family-owned…

The market for marine services in support of the installation and maintenance of undersea telecommunications cables has matured over a period of more than 100 years to reach its present state of development. The largest providers of marine services (companies such as the Global Marine Group, SubCom, Alcatel Submarine Networks and Orange Marine) take different approaches to operations, but provide a mature and assured set of services that play a critical role in the industry. Marine services support the suppliers of undersea cable systems (delivering 50…

In 1985, Chris Deegan was hired out of Penn State as a nuclear submarine cost estimator by the Naval Sea Systems Command and retired nearly 28 years later as the Executive Director of PEO Integrated Warfare Systems, with the last 10 as a member of the Senior Executive Service. He’s been with Gibbs & Cox since 2013, first as the Vice President of Engineering, and as President and Chief Executive since 2016.Please give a “by the numbers” look at Gibbs & Cox today.Since our founding in 1929…

Steve Lykins, President, Mako Industries, discusses the case for investing in Puradigm COVID-19 mitigation and monitoring technology onboard offshore rigs and ships.The creation of Mako Industries, a subsidiary of Mako Oilfield Services, is proof that every storm cloud has a silver lining. “Mako Industries is an interesting company that was spawned as a result of Mako Oilfield pivoting as a result of the downturn in early 2020 and Q1 2020,” said Steve Lykins, President, Mako Industries.

Thousands of containers have been lost by ships in heavy weather conditions over recent months, impacting the ocean environment and adding a large extra cost expense for shipping companies.Among many factors leading to the problem is heavy rolling and pitching of the ship that causes containers to lose their stability and fall overboard. Marine electronics company JRC said its navigational radar JMR-7200/9200 includes a Wave Analysis function made available through a software upgrade.The JRC Radar Wave Analysis function is developed to measure wave height, direction and length.

At CMRE, it’s not just about the science. It’s about building trust and confidence in resilient systems. An interview with Dr. Catherine Warner, Director, NATO Center for Maritime Research and Experimentation, La Spezia, ItalyTell us a little about yourself and CMRE. What does CMRE do, and how do you see your mission evolving?I came here from the Pentagon, where I was the science advisor for the director of operational test and evaluation. My experience has been working with operators on systems that they’re getting ready to field.

Kongsberg Maritime reports it has signed the first contract for the new HUGIN Superior 6,000-meter rated autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).According to its manufacturer, the HUGIN Superior, introduced to the market in December 2018, is engineered to provide significantly enhanced data, positioning and endurance capabilities while building on the proven track record of the HUGIN AUVs. The complete AUV system will be delivered in DNV certified offshore containers along with a…

Innovation is driving advanced monitoring and control technologies for environmental and safety compliance in the marine sector, says Gérard Baldellou, marine business unit manager at CMR Group.The marine diesel power sector continues to face significant challenges, particularly in areas where emissions resulting from combustion inside engines, along with fuel consumption levels need reducing. Escalating operating costs, tighter margins and pressures in the oil and gas sector signal challenging times for ship owners and fleet operators.

Since summer 2017, four vessels equipped with analog sonars have been upgraded using RTsys AS3i technology (Analog Surface Ship Sonar Improvement), which digitalized and improved the processing of signals rendered by sensors.Brittany-based company RTSYS does not only deals with AUV, subsea recorders and buoys, but can also display a full range of sonar systems such as handheld devices for divers or sonar retrofit. The latter of which led the French SME to lately offer in summer…

Kirby Inland Marine selected Furuno as the electronics of choice for its new generation of Subchapter M towboats. The first of three new vessels, MV Bailey, will soon enter service into the Kirby fleet of over 300 towboats and nearly 1,000 inland barges operating in U.S. waters. The bridge features Furuno electronics including Radar, GPS, AIS, depth sensors and more. This 88-ft.towboat was built at the Main Iron Works facility in Houma, LA, and has been designed from the keel…

With more than 60,000 installations on vessels ranging from tugboats to aircraft carriers, Furuno's FAR21X7 Series Radar has been one of the most popular commercial Radar models on the water since its release in 2004. Due to its unparalleled feature set, and the well-known reliability of the Furuno brand, the X7 series has earned serious bragging rights after a decade-and-a-half of market dominance, a claim that is virtually unheard of in the realm of consumer electronics. This year…

Radio Holland Netherlands has received an order for a full Nav/Com package for six vessels being built at Royal Bodewes in Hoogezand, highlighting longstanding relationships, both with Royal Bodewes and manufacturer Furuno. The FURUNO FAR-22x8/23x8 series is characterised by its state-of-the-art antenna design and innovative signal processing techniques. Radio Holland will install the new FAR radar, together with 26” screens, on all six of the new vessels, which are being built at Royal Bodewes. The NavCom packages to be provided comprise a variety of Furuno equipment (a.o.

To further enhance its research capabilities Eco Marine Power announced today that it will begin using the Neural Network Console provided by Sony Network Communications Inc., as part of a strategy to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into various ongoing ship related technology projects including the further development of the patented Aquarius MRE (Marine Renewable Energy) and EnergySail. The Neural Network Console is an integrated development environment using deep learning for AI creation and has been used in deep learning applied technology development within Sony since 2015. Various functions are included such as recognition technology and a full-fledged GUI (graphical user interface) and these allow for deep learning programs to be developed.

To operate marine electronics and communication devices, power converters such as inverters, battery chargers and power supplies are often installed to convert available DC or AC to the appropriate power outputs required. Complicating matters, both the power source (DC in varying voltages from battery banks and AC from generators or shore power) and the outputs (voltage, frequency, etc.) can vary for each piece of equipment. So much so, that finding the ideal converter can be difficult and often requires a customized solution.

FURUNO has announced that two new Radar models FAR-15x3 series and FAR-15x8 series will be ready for launch very shortly. These two Radar models have been developed with the concept of delivering high performance and excellent operability at the same time. The FAR-15x8 series fully meets the latest performance standard of IMO for all Cat.2 Radar (19-inch display is required for Radar effective diameter of 250 mm) and Cat.3 Radar (15-inch display is required for Radar effective diameter of 180 mm). FAR-15x3 series is non-IMO Radar suitable for workboats and fishing vessels.

Furuno is proud to announce that it is bringing side-scanning capabilities to its flagship NavNet TZtouch and TZtouch2 MFDs with its latest network sensor called the DFF3D. This multi-beam Sonar takes the highly-desired capability to scan port to starboard under the vessel and adds Furuno’s commercial fisheries spin on it. This deep-water Sonar delivers a sidebar detection range of an unprecedented 650+ feet, while being able to see down to over 1,000 feet. The DFF3D utilizes a new, compact multi-beam transducer, along with Furuno’s own advanced signal processing, to produce eye-popping images that will help you find and track fish. The transducer and fairing block is only 14 inches long, which makes this a perfect fit for boats of all sizes.

Marine electronics group Navico, a literal ‘house of brands’ for the recreational, sail, power and commercial marine markets, is making a strong push in the commercial sector with its Simrad brand. The ascension of Navico in recreational marine electronics business – an estimated $1 billion market globally – was fast and furious, growing from roughly 7% of the global market in 2005 to nearly 30% in 2007, standing steady at about 35% today, fueled by a strategy built on the acquisition of strong brands mixed with organic growth.

Pilots in the Port of Brisbane, one of Australia’s fastest growing container ports, are using the word “unmatched” when describing the performance of new navigational equipment from electronic navigation specialist Simrad, a brand within the Navico group. Installed during the recent refit of the pilot boat Amity, the equipment installations include an NSS12 evo2, 12-inch chart-plotter and multifunction display with GPS positioning, supported by a Simrad GS25 GPS antenna, as well as the recently-launched Simrad Halo 3ft Radar operating with the latest Pulse Compression technology.

German navigation system manufacturer Raytheon Anschütz reports that its NautoScan NX (NSX) network radar transceivers have exceeded 100 installations. With the launch of Raytheon Anschütz’s new NSX radar transceivers, state-of-the-art network radar technology has replaced the analog data transmission alternative. Now, radar status and video are generated in the transceiver, shared by a digital interface and distributed through a redundant Dual Gigabit LAN to an unlimited number of PCs – a unique and patented feature of the new NSX radar.

Defense and security company Saab said it has received a $16.8 million order from the U.S. Navy to provide the Sea Giraffe Agile Multi Beam (AMB), Multi-Mode Radar (MMR) – a 3D, electronically scanned phased array radar – to be deployed on the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC). The MMR provides high radiated power, selectable waveforms, and modern signal processing to consistently achieve high performance across various marine environments. The initial order covers the procurement of two systems with options for additional radars providing a total potential contract value of up to $118.5 million. “The U.S. Coast Guard is increasingly called upon to support an array of critical missions in the most challenging conditions.

AME is a Florida based engineering services company specializing in marine (Advanced Mechanical Enterprises) and industrial (Advanced Maintenance Engineering) predictive, preventative and corrective maintenance for rotating and reciprocating machinery. Founded by Rich Merhige in 1992, AME has pioneered the use of technologies and equipment to perform diagnostics, maintenance and repair, particularly for private and commercial vessels. As AME celebrates its 25th anniversary, discuss the decision to start the company.

SeeByte, creator of smart software for unmanned maritime systems, said it will demonstrate software solutions for unmanned systems as part of the Royal Navy’s Unmanned Warrior exercise. The exercise will feature more than 50 vehicles, sensors and systems and aims to demonstrate never-seen-before capabilities in the field of autonomy and unmanned systems. SeeByte’s software forms the core components of the Hell Bay 4 and MCM Challenge elements of Unmanned Warrior. The aim of these exercises is to develop and push the capabilities of autonomous systems…