Interfacing distributed automatic controls with the US Navy's Integrated Condition Assessment System (ICAS)

The Navy's Integrated Condition Assessment System (ICAS) is currently installed on numerous ship classes to improve shipboard equipment monitoring and record keeping, At the same time, progress is being made to install local embedded microprocessor based control systems on naval shipboard auxiliaries to improve the operation, efficiency, and monitoring while reducing manpower needs, These two efforts complement each other in that electronic sensors and signal conditioning equipment needed to perform control functions are also required to perform on-line diagnostic monitoring. An ICAS digital interface to the control system embedded in the auxiliary system can provide access for diagnostics and logging not only to all the equipment sensors, but also to the control valve positions and control system built-in test functions. This paper considers the U. S. Navy's present ICAS and distributed control system efforts and future direction. While the primary function of the embedded automatic controls is to provide a means to efficiently and safely operate equipment with a minimum number of operators, the function of ICAS is to monitor the equipment condition in order to identify when maintenance is needed and thus reduce the unnecessary maintenance. These two different functions tend to overlap, and there are gains to be made by the concurrent engineering and installation of local digital control and on-line ICAS monitoring equipment. Savings in hardware and operating cost can be achieved at the same time that ICAS diagnostics, Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals, operating procedures, maintenance instructions, and auxiliary equipment control and operating information are made available via network for on-line evaluation.