Portable Industrial PC Solution for Ocean and Coastal Surveying
A BVM Case Study
Introduction to the Customer
For over 50 years, our client has been at the forefront of pioneering technology for underwater exploration. Their expertise spans offshore energy, maritime defence, and ocean sciences, enabling safe and reliable underwater operations for navigation, positioning, communication, imaging, and measurement.
Their solutions support work at any water depth, for any duration, and from any operational platform—crewed or robotic—ensuring critical missions can be conducted safely and efficiently.
Customer Requirements
As part of advancing their defence and offshore product line, the client required a ruggedised portable PC to control and monitor Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) under extreme maritime conditions. Key requirements included:
- Reliable operation across a temperature range of -20°C to +50°C.
- High waterproofing and ingress protection, certified to withstand harsh sea environments.
- Portable and robust design capable of enduring rough handling, salt spray, and exposure at sea.
The system had to combine portability, rugged reliability, and operational versatility to support mission-critical tasks without compromise.
The Design
BVM delivered a bespoke Portable PC solution housed in a lightweight PELI 1400 Pelicase, featuring a 7” capacitive projective touchscreen interface. Key features included:
- ARM i.MX7 Computer-on-Module: Providing the system’s computing engine, combining sufficient power for current operations and future-proofing, while maintaining low heat dissipation. A custom carrier PCB routed waterproof I/O externally:
- USB: 1 × USB 2.0 Type-A
- Serial: 1 × DB9 Connector
- Sound: 1 × Waterproof Speaker/Driver
- Network: 2 × Panel-Mounted RJ45 LAN Connectors
- Power: 1 × Panel-Mounted Power-In Connector
- Transceiver: 1 × 8-Way Connector for ROV control
- 7” Projective Capacitive Touchscreen: 1000 Nit LED-backlit TFT for full visibility in extreme daylight, emulating modern smartphones and tablets for an intuitive user experience.
- GNSS Receiver: Integrated Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver with TW1422 GPS/GNSS antenna for precise positioning and navigation of ROVs.
- Power Flexibility: Accepts both 12V and 24V DC input for compatibility with various maritime power sources.
Environmental Specification
- Storage Temperature: -30°C to +70°C
- Operating Temperature: -20°C to +55°C
- Ingress Protection: IP67 with lid closed (storage), IP66 with lid open (operation)
- Salt Fog Resistant: To withstand corrosive marine environments
- Drop Resistance: Withstands drops up to 30 inches
Compliance Testing:
- EMC testing standard:
- BS EN 60945:2002 Emissions and Immunity
- BS EN 61000-6-1:2019 (Immunity)
- GNSS Receiver:
- EN 301 489-1 v2.2.0
- EN 301 489-19 V2.1.1
- EN 303 413 V1.1.1
- Testing for CE Mark
- IP66 lid open / IP67 lid closed
- Salt fog
- Storage temperature: -20°C to 60°C
- Operating temperature: -20°C to 55°C
- Drop Test: survive 30” drop
- Vibration: (topside IEC 60945 section 8.7)
Results & Benefits
The bespoke portable PC delivered by BVM provided immediate and measurable benefits:
- Reliable Field Operation: The system maintained consistent functionality under extreme temperature variations and exposure to sea spray.
- Precise Control: GNSS integration enabled accurate positioning and navigation of ROVs, critical for mission success.
- Intuitive User Experience: The high-brightness touchscreen provided clear visibility and familiar touch controls, reducing operator training time.
- Rugged Portability: Lightweight yet robust design allowed safe transportation and deployment across offshore vessels.
- Future-Proofed Solution: The ARM i.MX7 platform provided sufficient computing power for current applications while supporting potential future software upgrades.
Contact BVM Today!
BVM enables organisations to tackle challenging industrial and embedded computing requirements with innovation, expertise, and reliability. Our team delivers customised, high-performance solutions tailored to unique operational environments, from oceanic ROV control to rugged field applications.
Partner with BVM to achieve enhanced efficiency, operational reliability, and technological advancement for your critical projects.
Unlock the future of industrial computing with BVM…….
Elevate your next industrial computing or embedded design project by utilising the benefits that can be gained via BVM’s 30 years plus of expertise in the design & manufacture of bespoke industrial PC systems. Our dedicated team stands ready to collaborate, innovate and produced tailored solutions that you’re your exacting application needs.
Contact us on +44 (0) 1489 780144 or reach out via email to sales@bvmltd.co.uk. Let’s transform possibilities into realities, together.