Electronic Edge Design

Electronic Edge Design has completed the manufacture of the second prototype rack mounted unit for Digital Edge Subsea Limited.  The unit is a package for Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) video and event logging with built in inspection functionality.  Aimed at daily dive logging operations for ROV operators yet with the pipeline and platform inspection functionality built in at an incredibly low price.

Platform and pipeline inspection functionality built in at an incredibly low price

EdgeDVR Digital Video Inspection System

Included in the unit is a huge Digital Video Recorder (DVR) with capacity for many hours video logging.  Data is stored internally on two removable 1.5TB SATA hard drives.  One hard drive is dedicated to operations, so is dive orientated, the other is inspection orientated.  On the ‘Operations’ hard drive video is stored in relation to the project and the dive. The logs which are automatically generated are in relation to the dive, there is a general dive log, a video log, an anomaly log and  a photo log.

The second hard drive creates an automatic back of all data as data security is paramount.  However the second hard drive is not just a mirror image of the first.  This ‘Inspection’ hard drive stores data in a structure that is suitable for the inspection customer.  The data is stored by project, location and then by the structure or sub-structure that is being inspected.  So multiple dives with long time periods in between will still produce a folder with all the video in for a specific section of pipe or platform leg.

The software has twenty user configurable event buttons which the user can program to add events into the log and flag as an anomaly automatically.  When an event occurs the user just has to click on the button and the rest is done for them.  The event text is added to the log, the video position is marked so when reviewed later the user just has to click on the event to bring up the video in the correct position.  All logs are created automatically in Word so the documentation is kept up to date and accurate.

On completion of sea trials, all going to plan the unit should be available for sale in late November.  There is a dedicated product page for the Platform & Pipeline Inspection & Dive Event Log which will give you more detailed and up to date information.

Electronic Edge Design (EEDge) are well under way with the design of a range of subsea level switches.  The obvious question people ask is ‘if you are subsea, then surely the level switch is pointless’.  This would be the case if the level switch was used purely in the sea to detect if the sea level went down, however there are many situations where subsea level sensing is required.

Subsea Float Switch / Subsea Level Switch

The obvious use for subsea level switches is for levels in tanks.  Inside the tank the level switch is just the same as any other industrial level switch, however the difference is on the outside.  EEDges range of float switches can be fitted with a range of industry standard subsea connectors such as those from Subconn, Seacon or Birns.  A subsea lead or umbilical can then be attached to feed back to the instrumentation pod or directly up to the surface.

The less obvious use for the float switch is in its reverse role, is the subsea level sensor as a subsea gas sensor.  The level switch can be placed in places where pockets of gas could form.  Should there be a build up of gas the level will drop in the pocket and the switch will switch over alerting the control system or setting off an alarm.  It was for this very role that we first were looking for subsea level switches but could not find any on the market so decided to fill the gap ourselves.

The float switches can be mounted in flanges for external mounting or can be screwed into place internally from within a tank.  Flanges can made to most standard table sizes to fit most applications.

The new website of Electronic Edge Design (EEDge) has opened today.  Aimed at cutting edge research and development covering a wide range of disciplines, EEDge want to push the limits of product and solution design.

“The vast majority of problems can be solved, its just a matter of thinking laterally enough and persevering to find a solution”

Mike Cameron Managing Director of Electronic Edge Design

Mike Cameron the Managing Director intends on pushing the company to develop some ground breaking new products for the subsea, military and nuclear decommissioning markets.  When asked what the company’s direction is he responded, ‘To develop exciting new technologies that improve our world’.  On further questioning as to how this would be acheived he said, ’The vast majority of problems can be solved, its just a matter of thinking laterally enough and persevering to find a solution’.

Electronic Edge Design provide solutions covering a wide range of disciplines, not only in electronics.  Instrumentation and control systems, 3D CAD with Autodesk Inventor, software development in various different languages, even mechanical and mechatronic design.

If you have an engineering problem Electronic Edge Design may be just the people to solve it for you.