DP Operator Course K-Pos Systems

Training Manual

K-Pos Systems

Introduction
The range of K-Pos DP systems provides functions which fulfil the requirements for the
International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and all major classification societies, in
combination with an independant joystick control system. The K-Pos DP system is type-
approved by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
The Heading Control System (HCS) (Autopilot) has a mark of conformity (wheelmark) in
accordance with the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) (EU Council Directive 96/98/EC on
marine equipment) of the European Union.

The K-Pos Family of DP Systems

The K-Pos concept consists of a number of different types of DP control systems designed for
various applications and types of vessels. All the systems are based on the same hardware and
software platform.

• The stand-alone systems interface with other systems, such as power plant and
thrusters, via conventional signal cables and serial lines.
• The integrated systems communicate with other KONGSBERG systems such as
K-Chief (MarineAutomation) andK-Thrust (Thruster Control) via a dual ethernet
LAN.

The design gives the K-Pos concept a high degree of flexibility and extensive possibilities for
upgrading. In addition, the K-Pos concept has a number of options in order to adapt to various
demands and safety requirements.

The K-Pos systems are based on a small number of flexible hardware units which form the
building modules of the different system types. The same modules are also used as the
building blocks for integrated systems.

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The following table shows the basic systems within the K-Pos DP family.

System
DP-11 Stand-alone single DP control system
DP-12 Integrated single DP control system
DP-21 Stand-alone dual-redundant DP control system
DP-22 Integrated dual-redundant DP control system
DP-31 Stand-alone triple-redundant DP control system
DP-32 Integrated triple-redundant DP control system

The flexibility of the K-Pos concept means that systems designed for a particular class
notation can be easily upgraded to fulfil the requirements of a higher class, as shown in the
table below. The table shows the basic system types and the corresponding IMO Equipment
Class. The remarks indicate the first stage of the upgrading possibilities. The flexibility of the
K-Pos concept allows a simple upgrade path.

System IMO Remarks

Equipment
Class
DP-11/12 Class 1 Can be upgraded to Equipment Class 2
DP-21/22 Class 2 Can be upgraded to Equipment Class 3
DP-31/32 Class 2 Can be upgraded to Equipment Class 3
DP-21/22 with Class 3 DP-11/12 as backup
DP-11/12
DP-31/32 with Class 3 DP-11/12 as backup
DP-11/12

The IMO Equipment Classes are defined in the IMO MSC/Circ.645 Guidelines For Vessels
With Dynamic Positioning Systems.

Integrated Automation System (IAS)

Integrating all the functions for monitoring and control of a vessel provides a real benefit both
technically and economically. Functions can be integrated in order to reduce the overall need
for hardware and software functions and to reduce interfacing requirements. This in turn leads
to less demand for special software, cabling and testing. Furthermore, integrated systems offer
a far greater degree of redundancy, and therefore increased system availability and operational
performance.

K-Chief - Marine Automation

K-Chief is a distributed vessel automation and control system covering functions such as:
• Power management
• Machinery monitoring and alarm system
• Auxiliary monitoring and control
• Ballast monitoring and control
• Cargo monitoring and control
• Vessel-wide mode control

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K-Thrust - Thruster Control

The thruster control system monitors and controls the vessel’s propulsion and thruster system.
The system includes the following functions:
• Individual control of propulsion/thruster units
• Joystick control
• Station-keeping
• Monitoring and control of propulsion/thruster prime power units
• Monitoring and control of propulsion/thruster auxiliary units
• Emergency stop of propulsion/thruster units
In an integrated system K-Thrust operator stations may also act as backup for any of the K-
Pos operator stations, thereby increasing the system availability.
Further information about the K-Thrust and K-Chief systems can be found in the relevant
Product Descriptions.

The K-Pos OS (Operator Station)

The Operator Station is available in single, dual or triple configurations.
Each operator station contains a high-performance marinised computer running Windows XP.
A high-resolution colour flat-screen, approved for maritime operations, provides the main
graphic display for presentation of data.

K-Pos OS (single) K-Pos OS (double) K-Pos OS (triple)

The cJoy DP-OT and the cWing

The cJoy DP-OT (Operator Terminal) provides a remote joystick with automatic heading and
position capability for DP operation. Autopilot may be included. The cWing Terminal
provides a remote joystick with automatic heading capability. It is interfaced to one K-Pos OS
or cJoy DP-OT.

cJoy DP-OT cWing

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The K-Pos DPC (DP Controller)

DP Controllers are available in various models providing different degrees of redundancy.
The controllers are based on the KONGSBERG System Technology with control computer
modules and necessary I/O units focusing on fault tolerance through decoupling and
segregation.
Internal arrangement inside the cabinet reflects the controller structure. This gives a more
logical approach to controller upgrades as well as to installation and fault finding. The same
cabinet can be used for single and dual systems. Triple systems use an additional top section
for the third processor. This modular design provides a very easy upgrade path from single to
dual and triple configurations. The number of different hardware components is kept at a
minimum.
The hardware concept for a redundant solution contains:
• Main processors with dedicated processor synchronisation network
• Dual process LAN for communication with Operator Stations and other IAS units
• I/O modules snapped on to rails with built-in dual power and RBus (high speed
serial IO-bus)
• For stand-alone systems: full segregation per thruster, one I/O module per unit.
Built-in galvanic isolation and loop monitoring.
• Segregation of serial line I/O. Each serial line input is read by all main processors.

Hardware concept
DPC-2

RCU RCU To
To
NET 501 Red.Net 501 NET Field
Field PSU 1
A PSU 3 A B B

U31-37 U61-67 PWR

PSU
UPS1 PWR
PSU UPS2
HUB B
HUB A
HUB A

B
3
RSER
RSER
RSER

RMP

RSER

RMP
RMP

RMP
RMP

RMP
RMP

RMP

A
1

Legend:
RBUS A
RBUS B
U41-47 U71-77 NET A
RMP

RMP
RMP

RMP
RMP
RMP

RMP
RMP

RMP
RMP

RMP
RMP

RMP
RMP

NET B
SERIAL

(OPTION) (OPTION)

Section-A Section-B

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Dual LAN Dual synchronisation

network network

RCU501 processor R-Bus serial I/O bus

communication with
I/O modules

RMP200 I/O modules

RHUB200 R-Bus HUB

RSER200 Serial
communication module
Redundant power

DP Hardware concept – Stand alone

Single Double Tripple

DP Hardware concept – Integrated

Single Double Tripple

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Controller Cabinets

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Network
The network used is an industrial Local Area Network (LAN) compatible with the Ethernet
IEEE 802.3 standard. The network is organised as a star-shaped structure with a switch at its
centre. Designing networks with switches gives the opportunity to segment the network traffic
in integrated systems. Dual- and triple-redundant stand-alone K-Pos systems, and all
integrated K-Pos systems, use a dual-redundant network comprising two separate but identical
networks (A and B). In integrated K-Pos systems, switches are installed in wall-mounted
cabinets known as Network Distribution Units (NDU). Several interconnected NDUs may be
used, depending on the scope of the system.

K-Pos DP-11 and DP-12

The DP-11 and DP-12 are single DP control systems comprising a DP controller unit (DPC-1)
and a dedicated operator station (K-Pos OS). The controller unit and the operator station
communicate via a dual high-speed data network for DP-12 and single network for DP-11.
Both systems satisfy IMO Equipment Class 1 and corresponding class notations.
The DP-11 system provides a direct interface to the thrusters and includes the necessary
interfaces to power plant, position-reference systems and sensors.
The DP-12 system is designed for integration with the KONGSBERG K-Thrust and K-Chief
systems. In this configuration, the interfaces to the thruster and power systems are via a dual
data network to other parts of the integrated system.
K-Pos DP-11 Standard System

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K-Pos DP-21 and DP-22

The DP-21 and DP-22 are dual-redundant DP control systems comprising a dual redundant
DP controller unit (DPC-2) and two identical operator stations (K-Pos OS). The controller
unit and the operator stations communicate via a dual high-speed data network. Both systems
satisfy the requirements of IMO Equipment Class 2 and corresponding class notations.
The DP-21 system provides a direct interface to the thrusters and includes the necessary
interfaces to power plant, position-reference systems and sensors.
The DP-22 system is designed for integration with the KONGSBERG K-Thrust and K-Chief
systems. In this configuration, the interface to the propulsion and power systems is via a dual
data network to the other parts of the integrated system.

Dual Redundancy
The most common redundancy concept for dynamic positioning systems is the use of
redundant sensors (two or more) and a dual computer system. The dual system, often referred
to as “online” and ”hot standby”, significantly increases the total availability and reliability of
a system compared to a single system. The following list specifies the main advantages of
redundancy:
• No single-point failure
The system is designed to avoid total system failure if single failure occurs.
• Failure detection
The system will detect a failure, allowing corrective actions to be taken.
• Fault isolation
If one system component fails, the other components will not be affected.
• Switchover to hot standby
If the online computer in a dual-redundant system fails, a successful switchover to
the hot-standby computer takes place automatically.
The system provides redundancy in accordance with Class 2 requirements. The two controller
computers are separate and operate independently of each other. The operator may choose
which computer is to be online, while the other computer acts as the hot standby.
The two computers operate in parallel, each receiving the same input from the operator,
sensors, reference systems and thrusters, and each performing the same calculations.
However, only the online computer can control the thruster system. A switchover is activated
either automatically, if a failure is detected in the online computer, or manually by the
operator. Automatic switching is allowed only once. The operator must explicitly enable any
further automatic switching.
Both control computers are continuously checked for both hardware and software failures. If a
failure is detected, a warning or alarm is given.

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K-Pos DP-21 Standard System

K-Pos DP-31 and DP-32

The DP-31 and DP-32 are triple-redundant DP control systems comprising a triple-redundant
DP controller unit (DPC-3) and three identical operator stations. The controller unit and the
operator stations communicate via a dual high-speed data network. Both systems satisfy the
requirements of IMO Equipment Class 2 and corresponding class notations.
The DP-31 system provides a conventional interface to the vessel’s propulsion and power
systems, while the DP-32 system is designed for integration with the KONGSBERG K-Thrust
and K-Chief systems.
Triple Redundancy
Redundancy increases the availability and reliability of the K-Pos system and ensures that
positioning can still be performed should a single fault occur in either the K-Pos system or the
connected sensors and position-reference systems. Triple redundancy significantly increases
the total availability of a system compared to a single or a dual system.
The triple redundancy incorporated in the DP-31/32 systems not only detects an error and
isolates the faulty data or component, but also disregards the faulty data in the DP
calculations. This means that the operator is not forced to determine which data or component
is correct.

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The three DP control computers perform the same positioning tasks. Each individual
computer uses the same data from each of the sensors and position-reference systems to
calculate the command signals to the thrusters/propellers.
The concept of majority voting is used to detect and isolate faults in the sensors and in the K-
Pos system itself. Once the voting has taken place, the failed (incorrect) computer will, if
possible, correct itself automatically, based on the values of the other computers. If the failed
computer cannot correct itself, the operator is informed and the faulty computer should be
replaced. Meanwhile, the two other computers continue working and perform dual-
redundancy procedures in the same way as a dual system. The system will automatically
reconfigure itself to a triple-redundant system as soon as the failed computer is replaced.
All three control computers perform voting, but only one of the control computers (the
“master” computer) communicates with the operator stations and outputs serial-line
information. The operator can explicitly select the computer that is to be the master.
If the present “master” computer should fail, another computer will immediately take over the
“master” responsibility.
The main advantages of triple redundancy are:
• Voting of sensor input signals
The voting is performed between tightly synchronised computers to:
- Detect sensor errors such as compass drift and sensor breakdown.
- Ensure that all three computers use the same data as a basis for
calculation of command signals.
• Software Implemented Fault Tolerance (SIFT)
The Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) detects an error in the processing
elements and corrects the error by employing voting algorithms. The system
represents a Software Implemented Fault Tolerance (SIFT) concept.
• Voting on command (output) signals
- DP-31: The thruster commands from the three control computers are
compared by the “master” computer and the median command is
selected to be the final output.
- DP-32: The voting of the thruster commands is performed in the
thruster control field station.
• No single-point failure
The system is designed to avoid total system failure if single failure occurs.
• Failure detection
The system will detect a failure, allowing corrective action to be taken.
• Fault isolation
If one system component fails, the other components will not be affected.
• No standby unit, all computers are “hot”
If one DP control computer fails in a triple-redundancy system, the two other
computers continue working and perform dual-redundancy procedures in the same

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way as a dual system. Should a second computer failure take place, there is an
automatic switchover to the remaining computer.
• Hot repair
It is possible to replace a computer while the other computers continue the
operation.
K-Pos DP-31 Standard System

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K-Pos in IAS Context

The DP-12, DP-22 and DP-32 systems are designed for integration with other KONGSBERG
systems in order to form a unified, Integrated Automation System. The system design and the
use of common modules allow integrated systems to be tailor-made for a wide range of vessel
types. The following example shows an DP-22 system.

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IMO Equipment Class 3 Systems

In order to comply with the Equipment Class 3 requirements, a DP control system with
redundancy and a single DP control system must be installed separated by an A60 class
division. Three sets of sensors and reference systems must be installed. One set of sensors and
one reference system must be connected to the single DP control system (usually referred to
as the “Fire Backup”).
K-Pos DP-21/31 and DP-11 Standard Configuration
In the following Equipment Class 3 configuration, the main DP control system could be either
a DP-21 dual-redundant stand-alone DP system (as illustrated), or a DP-31 triple-redundant
system. The main system has at least two sets of position-reference systems and sensors, and
two uninterruptible power supply systems.
The backup is provided by a DP-11, stand-alone DP control system, equipped with its own
position-reference system, sensors and uninterruptible power supply. The sensors and
position-reference system of the backup is also connected to the main DP. The backup system
is separated from the main DP control system by an A60 class division.
In this application, the DP-11 uses a dual high-speed data network.
A manual switchover control is located at the backup system. An additional manual change-
over switch may be located at the main system.

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K-Pos DP-22/32 and DP-12 Standard Configuration

In the following Class 3 configuration of an integrated system, the main DP control system
could be either a DP-22 dual-redundant system (as illustrated), or a DP-32 triple-redundant
system. The main system has at least two sets of position-reference systems and sensors, and
two uninterruptible power supply systems.
The backup is provided by a DP-12 single DP control system, equipped with its own position-
reference system, sensors and uninterruptible power supply. The sensors and position-
reference system of the backup are also connected to the main DP. The backup system is
separated from the main DP control system by an A60 class division. A manual switch-over
control is located at the backup system. An additional change-over switch may be located at
the main system.

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K-Pos Extensions and Upgrades

Operator Stations
Additional DP operator stations can be connected to the data network. Each operator station
operates independently. Command of the vessel can easily be transferred between the operator
stations.
Operator Terminals
Operator terminals (cJoy DP-OT) can be connected to the data network. Each terminal
operates independently. Command of the vessel can easily be transferred between the operator
stations and operator terminals.
Wing Terminals
Wing terminals (cWing) can be connected to one of the operator stations/terminals. Command
of the vessel can easily be transferred between the operator stations, operator terminals and
wing terminals.
Controller redundancy
The K-Pos DPC-1 controllers can be upgraded to DPC-2 (dual redundancy) by adding:
• a controller computer (RCU)
• I/O Bus (RHUB)
• preconfigured mounting plate (with fuse, power, filter, patch box for LAN,
cableducts etc.)
It would also need software update and, if needed, adding units to the IO system to get proper
segregation.
The K-Pos DPC-2 controllers can be upgraded to DPC-3 (triple redundancy) by simply
adding a third control computer (RCU).
Screen Capture Printer
A screen capture printer can be connected to the data network. This gives the operator the
possibility to print the current display picture.
Data Logging System
Extensive data logging functions are available for the K-Pos systems as a separate History
Station with recording and reviewing facilities.
IMO Equipment Class 2
The K-Pos DP-11 and DP-12 systems can be upgraded to IMO Equipment Class 2 (redundant
system) by adding one or more operator stations, upgrading the DP controller to DPC-2 (or
DPC-3) and add necessary reference systems and sensors.
IMO Equipment Class 3
The K-Pos DP-21/22 and DP-31/32 systems can be upgraded to the requirements of IMO
Equipment Class 3 by installing an DP-11/12 system in a separate compartment and
connecting it to the data network as a backup system. At least one of each sensor type and one
position-reference system must be connected to the backup system.

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Integrated redundant DP control system (K-Pos DP2) with Independant Joystick system
(cJoy) and levers for each thruster (K-Thrust). This setup would fulfill IMO DP class 2
requirements for DP control system if the number of sensors and position reference systems
where correct.

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Examle of integrated vessel control system consisting of K-Pos DP, cJoy, K-Thrust, K-Bridge
and K-Chief

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