Computers with Sturdy Sea Legs

Sub sea surveying is used extensively for many applications such as the laying of the thousands of miles of sub-sea communications cables that criss cross our oceans. The expensive and sophisticated instrumentation and analytical equipment needed for such surveying is normally rented for the duration of the project. Consequently, such equipment is regularly ferried from vessel to vessel all around the world.

Not only is a ship bourne environment particularly hostile to the reliable operation of computers, but coupled with the continuous ferrying of the equipment these pose significant technical challenges to overcome. For this application Captec designed a completely bespoke solution for one of the world?s leading manufacturers of sub-sea surveying and topology mapping. Designed to be housed in a flight case, the industrial computer and peripheral equipment is restricted to a highly compact form factor, a mere 30cm deep. To further economise on space the keyboard and display are on telescopic slides for stow away when not in use. Shock and vibration play a critical part both in operational use in a ship as well as during transport to and from operators. An associated constraint was portability which necessitate the use of variable Computers with Sturdy Sea Legs materials to retain strength but reduce the overall weight of the equipment. The cost of survey vessels are substantial and therefore a further key requirement is reliability to avoid the risk of equipment failure at sea.

To ensure the equipment was suitable for the marine application the complete industrial computer system was put through rigorous testing with certification to EN ISO 60945.