Computer Control System for B & W Main Engin Bridge Manoeuvring

Abstract

Various kinds of bridge manoeuvring equipments, with which main diesel engines are controlled automatically from the bridge, have been used in large vessels for about ten years. On the other hand, several super-automated ships have recently come into service and these ships have computers which watch, record and detect various conditions of main diesel engines and auxiliaries. However it has not yet be reported that computers carried out the functions of bridge manoeuvring for a main diesel engine. Ordinary bridge manoeuvring system for a main diesel engine has up to now been of sequential control system, and not system of handling calculations. And we could not find out merits of using a computer. However it is expected that a mini-computer control system will be available for the main diesel engine bridge manoeuvring on super-automated ships in the future, because the reduction of price, rise of ability, rise of reliability and development of utility technique are being extremely accelerated. We tried to apply a mini-computer (HIDIC-100) to HITACHI B & W K-EF type main diesel engine bridge manoeuvring system, i. e. we designed a mini-computer control system for the above engine, made the object program, and carried out tests for performance and sequence of the system with satisfactory results.