11.2 Optimus EPS — electric actuator Overview Optimus EPS with electric actuator is the marine industry’s first fully electric, retrofitable, steer-by-wire system for outboard engines. This premium system is engineered for simple installation, with fewer parts than our standard electro-hydraulic EPS, no hoses to route, and no hydraulic system to purge. With a list of extensive safety features including redundant communications, self-monitoring, and fault alerts, Optimus EPS with electric actuator will give you years of safe and reliable operation. The system consists of the major components listed below. Figure 11-13 shows these components in a schematic system diagram. Electric steering actuator and steering control unit (SCU) The electric steering actuator is a state-of-the-art device that converts the rotation of a brushless DC motor into precise linear motion and position control. It mounts directly to the outboard motor in place of a conventional hydraulic steering cylinder. The steering control unit (SCU), integrated with the actuator, receives wheel movement messages from the helm and controls the actuator to steer as required. The SCU manages CANbus communications between system components, synchronizes multiple actuators, and monitors rudder position. The SCU can also respond to inputs from the SeaWays autopilot, or from a certified third-party autopilot system. The SCU replaces the PCM used in the standard Optimus electro-hydraulic system. Electronic helm The helm converts steering wheel movement into digital messages that are sent over CAN1 to the SCU. A system of friction plates in the helm allow the steering effort to be adjusted according to a set-point received from the SCU. (A steering wheel is not included with the Optimus EPS system.) CANtrak display The CANtrak displays system status and fault information and enables the operator to make changes to user-adjustable steering settings (when so configured by the installer). It is also used to activate the optional SeaWays autopilot and SeaStation GPS anchoring features on boats with the Optimus 360 joystick control system. Authorized installers have access to additional menus with system setup and calibration tools. CAN networks CAN (controller area network) is a serial network protocol that is widely used in marine and automotive control systems. Each device (node) on the network can send and receive data using specially formatted messages. The ability to reliably communicate data between devices is what enables the steer-by-wire functionality of Optimus EPS. Optimus EPS uses up to three independent CAN networks, designated CAN1, CAN2, and CAN3. • CAN1 is a low-speed, fault-tolerant network with redundant power wiring. It is used for safety-critical communication between the helm and SCU. 11.2.1
11-12
EN
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker