Modular Navigation Aid System Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maritime navigation aid systems certified to standards like ECDIS face limitations when trying to incorporate additional functionalities, such as those needed for fishing, due to the requirement of certifying all modules, which can restrict design flexibility and safety in certified modes.
Innovation Solution
A navigation aid system with a modular architecture that switches between certified and non-certified modes by using compatible and non-compatible modules, where only compatible modules call functions in certified mode, allowing dynamic switching without stopping the system and maintaining safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all modules are certified according to ECDIS standards, then system safety and compliance are ensured, but design flexibility and functionality are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two distinct module types: certified modules that comply with ECDIS standards and non-certified modules that provide additional functionality. This segmentation allows the navigation function to be separated from auxiliary functions, enabling each to be developed and certified independently. The certified modules ensure safety and compliance, while non-certified modules add versatility without compromising the core navigation safety.
Solution Approach 2:
A certification management module acts as an intermediary between certified and non-certified modules. This intermediary component controls which modules are activated in certified mode versus non-certified mode, managing the transition between operational states. It ensures that only certified modules are active during certified operation, while allowing non-certified modules to be utilized in non-certified mode, thus mediating the conflict between safety requirements and functional flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional functionalities are added to certified systems, then system versatility is improved, but certification compliance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its operational mode based on which modules are active. The certification status is not fixed but changes according to the operational configuration. When only certified modules are active, the system operates in certified mode with full compliance. When non-certified modules are activated, the system transitions to non-certified mode, dynamically adapting its compliance status to match its functional configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a certification indicator parameter that changes state to reflect the current operational mode. This parameter is consulted by modules to determine whether to execute their functions. When the indicator shows certified mode, only certified modules are permitted to execute. When the indicator shows non-certified mode, both certified and non-certified modules can execute, thus using parameter changes to manage the balance between functionality and compliance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If modular architecture is used to improve design flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each module contains self-identifying information about its certification status. Modules automatically provide this information when queried by the certification management module or other modules. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex external verification systems, as modules independently declare their certification status, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining the benefits of modularity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where modules query each other's certification status before establishing communication or executing functions. The certification indicator provides feedback to modules about the current operational mode, and modules provide feedback about their own certification status. This feedback loop enables automatic compliance verification without adding significant complexity, as the information flow is integrated into the existing modular communication framework.
Data Source
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AI summary
A navigation assistance system is designed to switch between a certified operating mode (according to a standard) and a non-certified operating mode. It is based on a modular architecture and implemented by executing compatible modules (MOD1, MOD2) with a compatibility attribute and modules (MOD3, MOD4) without a compatibility attribute. An indicator (IND) representing the current operating mode is provided; the compatible modules (MOD1, MOD2) are designed to call a function (FN1, FN2, FN3, SRV) of another module only when the indicator (IND) represents the non-certified operating mode or when the other module has a compatibility attribute.