09 July 2025
Integration of sensor technology in ship systems
Explore the benefits of advanced sensor technology
Project description
In this project, the challenge lay in being able to reliably control multiple electronically controlled diesel engines (EDC/ECU) from a central mixing console, or ‘dyno’. DdR designed a CAN bus protocol to avoid crashes, delays and connection failures. The result: real-time control, easy integration and comprehensive data logging.
More technical details
- Date: April 2018
- Category: Engineering - CAN bus
- Duration: 6 weeks (analysis to implementation)
- Tags: #CANbus #motor interface #datalogging
Solutions implemented
- Designing a custom CAN bus network with error handling and redundancy
- Integration of motor controllers, displays and sensors in one interface
- Validation via test rigs and step-by-step implementation
Results
- Interference-free control under test load
- Easy-to-read data for optimisation and reporting
- Efficiency gains as operators have a quick overview
Learning points
- How a reliable CAN bus protocol works
- The importance of fault tolerance for industrial motor systems
- Practical integration between hardware and software in maritime systems
