Guidance Navigation RadaScan Operator's Manual

Operator’s

Guide

Radascan Operators Manual 20/11/06 1:46 pm Page 1

Disk contains:

• Control Console Software

• Software License

• Operator’s Guide

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RadaScan Operator - 1

Copyright © 2006 Guidance Navigation Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright in the whole and every part of this document belongs to Guidance
Navigation Limited (the “Owner”) and may not be used, sold, transferred,
copied or reproduced in whole or in part in any manner or form or in or on any
media to any person other than in accordance with the terms of the Owner’s
agreement or otherwise without the prior written consent of the Owner.

Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies or organisations.

RadaScan is not currently approved for import to the United States

Guidance Navigation Limited

4 Dominus Way
Meridian Business Park
Leicester LE19 1RP
England

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Release: 1.0b
Date: 23/10/2006
Document No: 94-0021-4

Previous issue: No previous issue

Design:

www.birdhouse.co.uk

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Contents

Introduction

Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Principles of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Serial numbers and software versions

Software version information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Using the system

Startup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Suspend, exit or reset communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Screen layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Sensor display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Button bar - display options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Navigation section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Status bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Property pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Alarms property page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Using the historic alarm list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Reflection property page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Configuration property page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

DP feed format and message string . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

About property page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Using the on-screen keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Using log files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Entering service access mode

To obtain and use a temporary service access mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

The configuration page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Specifications

Specification information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

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RadaScan Operator - 3

Welcome to the RadaScan position reference sensor for dynamic positioning
and other vessel control applications. RadaScan is a high accuracy radar
based sensor that provides positional information to allow automated
approach and/or station keeping relative to a structure or vessel. The
structure or vessel must be equipped with one or more retro-reflective
RadaScan transponders/targets.

Components:

RadaScan has been designed for permanent installation and quick/easy
operation. A RadaScan system comprises of 3 major components as follows:

• The RadaScan Sensor. A scanning transceiver unit with integral power

supply and processing electronics for installation in a prominent external
location in order to view available transponder. The Sensor is connected
to the vessel DP system by a serial RS422 or Ethernet link.

• The RadaScan Console. A system control and display application running

under Microsoft Windows XP on a standard PC. This allows full control of
the system together with graphical and data display of system status. An
Ethernet link connects the Sensor to
the Console PC.

• RadaScan Transponder/Target.

A passive self contained battery
powered electronics module for
temporary, semi-permanent or
permanent installation on the
target vessel. RadaScan
transponders are ATEX
certified as intrinsically
safe.

Principles of Operation

The RadaScan sensor emits a low power radar beam. The beam is received
by a RadaScan transponder and instantaneously reflected back to the sensor.
The sensor uses the reflection to accurately calculate the distance (range) and
direction (bearing) to the transponder. This positional data is automatically
sent to the DP system. The transponder reflection is retro-reflective in
character (ie it is sent in the same direction as received beam). The
transponder is also able to encode the reflection with a transponder identity
code. This code allows the sensor to recognise the reflection as genuine and
so aid easy operation and improve tracking reliability.

RadaScan unit

RadaScan equipped vessel

RadaScan transponders

Introduction

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Component Part Numbers and individual Serial Number are assigned to each
sensor, transponder and PC.

Software version information

The Configuration page tab within the property sheet provides version
information about every software component with the Console application and
the RadaScan Sensor.

Serial numbers and software versions

Software component

version information

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Radascan User Console provides an intuitive environment that allows you to
quickly assess and control the functions of the system. This section provides
information about the options and procedures within the program.

Start up

To enter RadaScan User Console

1 Ensure that the RadaScan sensor is powered on and running correctly.

2 Locate the RadaScan User Console icon and double click it.

(or run the RadaScan User Console application from Start > Programs >
RadaScan > RadaScan User Console).

3 The Console display screen will appear. After a brief initialisation period

indicated by a connecting dialog, the sensor will begin operation and its
scanning results displayed on screen.

Suspend, exit or reset communications

RadaScan User Console offers you two options for shutting down or
suspending or resetting the sensor communication link. These options are
accessed via the RadaScan button in the lower left-hand corner:

• Suspend - Places the sensor into a 'sleep mode' whereby the motor ceases

spinning. However, upon command from the Console application, the unit will
return to full operation. This mode is suitable for use when travelling between
locations.

• Suspend & Exit - Places the sensor into the same 'sleep mode' as the

suspend command (discussed above) and also closes the RadaScan Console
program.

To suspend or exit

1Click the 'RadaScan' button in the lower left corner of the screen (this

button is not available while navigating). A dialog box will be displayed:

2 Click the down-

arrow to reveal the
three options.
Select the required
option and click
the OK button.

Using the System

RadaScan

Console

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The RadaScan User Console screen has five key areas:

• The Sensor display

• The Navigation section

• The Status bar

• The Property sheet

• The Button bar

Screen layout

Property pages

Provides detailed
information on a number of
different topics and uses two
tabbed pages to group
information.

Sensor display

A large circular area, rather
like a radar sweep display,
that shows the relationship
between the RadaScan
vessel and any targets that
are in view.

Button bar

A collection of nine buttons
that provide, or control, a
range of functions.
The pages that follow
provide explanations of each
of the five key screen areas
and the elements presented
within them.

Status bar

Provides important feedback information on various topics and
displays the date and time that the situation was first reported.

Navigation section

This section provides
navigation information in a
simple clear manner
whenever the system is
navigating.

Positional data display

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