Intrinsical redundancy: HighMode, with its capability to control all the electrical system by the touch-screen or by the remote control, has an intrinsical redundancy not available in other systems, especially those based on the couple PC / PLC. If the centralized system fails or the bus is accidentally disconnected, one can always control the whole system easily and safely by the remote control without checking complex diagrams or acting manually on relays or other devices. Our goal, to bring back the boat into the harbour safely, is thus reached.

Double-Touch approach: the control software has been developed according to the need of linearity and simplicity. It is possible to jump from one function to the other using no more than two touches, usually placed in the same positions. In fact the system has the typical tree structure (home page and submenus) but it appears as a group of interchangeable panels

Easy installation: our monitoring system is “implanted” over the traditional one. So, any screen is the image of a corresponding hardware panel. Thanks to the easy dip-switch configuration, the shipyard can make small changes without the help of Tecnonautica experts. Our goal is still to deliver to the shipyard all the system already configured, the task being only wiring and connections. However, in case of last minute changes, a powerful but very simple software tool allows graphical and functional modifications to be made in few mouse clicks.

a) Actuation Interface: they are the Tecnonautica custom cards. Their duty is to activate the power relays inside the power switchboard and to gather all the feedbacks in order to send them back to the panels. They are usually all placed inside the main power switchbox.

b) Control Cards: they are the Tecnonautica custom cards normally placed in the main remote control panel. Their duty is to drive the actuation interfaces above mentioned. . The control cards are connected to the interfaces by the traditional and safe flat-cable system. They also are equipped by a Tecnonautica bus interface for the communication with a control PC via a proprietary bus (named TN-bus) using a normal RS-485 port. In the HighMode philosophy all the controls are concentrated in a single panel which can be used as “hard backup” of the centralized system.

c) Master PC for monitoring and control: This is an industrial grade PC for rough environments with a heavy duty touch-screen and equipped with the TN-bus for the communication with the system’s control cards.

d) HighMode Software: is the Tecnonautica tool for the control and the monitoring of the board installation.

e) Power Box: is the intelligent power supply for the PC and the monitor. Its main duty is to avoid incorrect and potentially dangerous switching off of the system. Besides, relying on different energy sources available on the installation, continuity of service is achieved . It is connected to the PC by RS485, totally controlled by the HighMode software.

f) Event Recorder (optional): it can be combined with the monitoring software. It is a very safe hardware recorder of the events that occurs to the electric system to allow a future analysis of breakdowns or inefficiencies. It can also record out of order periods of the monitoring system.

g) Further Stations: they are connected to the PC master by a data net and they consent to have until 4 different touch panels to control the system, of course with some differentiation concerning the rights and possibilities of access.

h) Remote Control Units: mobile units for the access and activation of system parts under the centralized control, they are realised on different supports and they use different wireless communication systems.