MDL Fanbeam Upgrades Enhance Tracking Reliability
When working alongside a platform or in close quarters with another vessel one of the best Position Reference Systems available to use is the Fanbeam.
Fanbeam systems are primarily used as a relative reference, to continuously monitor the range & bearing from a selected reflector. This means that if the platform or vessel you are referencing from makes a move toward you, your vessels dynamic positioning system will compensate & move so that the range & bearing remain constant.
MDL Laser Systems is an industry leader in Fanbeam technology & with their latest upgrades to the Control System software their product continues to get better. The new software, which has been tested in field trials after an 18-month development programme, is part of constant evaluation and monitoring of the system with users worldwide to ensure that Fanbeam® constantly evolves ahead of competing technologies.
Some of the upgraded features include:
- Intelligent target clutter rejection
- Vertical tilt during tracking
- Fully-Automatic target filtering
- New enhanced tracking algorithm
MDL business development manager, Keith Park says: “This is an extremely exciting development which has already been widely welcomed in customer trials and we are expecting significant demand as the market becomes aware of the new capabilities.
“Customer feedback confirms that the enhanced Fanbeam® performs significantly better than the current model in a range of marine operations creating another step forward in its development.
“Additional good news is that the new software is backwards-compatible so it can be used with existing laser hardware. This makes obtaining the new control software a significantly more cost effective investment than having to acquire a totally new laser scanner.”
At use in the field
Among the first offshore operators to acquire Fanbeam with the new control software has been Norwegian support vessels company Solstad.
Norway-based Solstad Offshore ASA, which has a modern fleet of more than 40 construction, anchor handling and supply vessels, operates worldwide and has DP Class 1, 2 & 3 ships supporting the international oil and gas industries.
The company conducted extensive trials with the new control software while operating in the Muchison and Ninan oilfields and was so impressed that it decided to buy one of the first of the new systems this summer.
Solstad captain, Sigve Maelen, says that the new control software adds to the efficiency and ease-of-use of the system. He adds: “We are very happy with the new Fanbeam control software. The vertical-tilt-during-tracking facility is very useful and allows us to enhance the signals where each oil or gas platform reflector is placed differently.”
MDL, which has offices in Aberdeen, Scotland, York, England and Houston, Texas, was founded in 1983.
Further details are available at www.mdl-laser.com or, for this product, at www.fanbeam.com.
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[...] with one yet? The ability to adjust the vertical angle while it is tracking would be pretty handy.. Here is an article on it S. __________________ Click for the Latest DP News & Commentary! [...]
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[...] Position Reference Systems, such as Fanbeam [...]
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[...] MDL releases upgraded Fanbeam software. When working alongside a platform or in close quarters with another vessel one of the best Position Reference Systems available to use is the Fanbeam. The new software, which has been tested in field trials after an 18-month development programme, is part of constant evaluation and monitoring of the system with users worldwide to ensure that Fanbeam constantly evolves ahead of competing technologies. [...]
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[...] with one yet? The ability to adjust the vertical angle while it is tracking would be pretty handy.. Here is an article on it S. Dynamic Positioning News. Updated daily! function fbs_click() [...]
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What a about CyScan MK4.0 that was realesed 2009. This system has
- Active wave motion compensation (auto-levelling)that is Gyro and software controlled.Once activated the levelling function is completely automatic and allows target lock to be maintained even in high sea states.
- A rotating scanner so that it can use a multi-target mode of operation offering significant navigation advantages to a DP system.
-The sensor uses intelligent algorithms prevent false reflections from
hi-visibility jackets and other surfaces. It also can regonize difrent targets from each other.
I am using a CyScan MK 4.0 and its works very good.
The MDL Fanbeam has come along way in the space of 20 years with thousands on the market and good performance.
“Active wave motion compensation (auto-levelling)” = Fanbeam does not require this because is has a Fanned laser beam which at the distance between ship and oilrig the fan beam is huge thus eliminating the need for auto level systems. tilt adjust is there to compensate for bridge and platform hight. with the new software you can actually adjust tilt on the move to obtain the best signal strength.
“A rotating scanner” Fanbeam works by scanning a selected target and locking on and for the last few years now the software uses “intelligent algorithms” to prevent false reflections from
hi-visibility jackets and other surfaces. It also can regonize difrent targets from each other.
I have used Fanbeam for many years now and it works very good, I have heard Cyscan MK4.0 do not meet spec and the radar systems are still unreliable.
I have played with the new Fanbeam 5 (4.2 hardware with the new control software. Yes it is better than it was but does not touch a CyScan MK4. The tilt on the fanbeam still stops data going to the DP which sets off alarms and having the operator deliberately stop it Navigating on the target seems madness. Both the CyScan and the Fanbeam have “Fanbeams” but where the Fanbeam laser sensor will lose the target in rough seas the CyScan copes by fast Auto compensation of the laser module in the head using gyro detection and compensation.
Best buy for the bucks has to be the CyScan. As for the RadaScan…. yes its big but the new mini RadaScan looks like it will be the future of the market as it is small, low cost and WORKS! Of course one day targetless tracking using 3D laser and cloud point will arrive or high frequency radar tracking with no targets like the top end cars such as the Jaguar……. you have to wonder why its not here already (or is it??)