Source: Xsens
The offshore wind power industry is experiencing a continuous and rapid growth trend. According to data from the Global Wind Energy Council, by the end of 2022, the global offshore wind power capacity reached 64.3 gigawatts, spread across 19 countries on three continents. It is expected that by 2032, the global new capacity will exceed 380 GW.
Therefore, efforts are being intensified to find suitable offshore wind power locations: the most promising areas in the ocean are those with shallow waters (facilitating installation), reliable wind conditions, and moderate wave activity. Meanwhile, wind farm developers need to assure national regulatory agencies that sensitive ecological sites will not be adversely affected by the installation or operation of wind turbines.
OCG-Data Marine Data Collection Platform
OCG-Data is a zero-emission environmental monitoring buoy that provides real-time, multi-sensor data and is one of the leading innovative solutions. A key component of its data collection system is the Xsens MTi-300 sensor, which provides critical wave motion analysis for offshore wind farm developers.
OCG-Data: A Floating Marine Environmental Laboratory
The OCG-Data platform offers a continuous, synchronized view of the entire marine environment around it. The onboard sensor array includes visual and thermal cameras above and below water, microphones for listening to animal sounds, LiDAR and radar monitors, and sonar. This means it can capture information about wildlife passing through the area as well as the current weather conditions.Measurements from various instruments such as LiDAR and bird radar need to be adjusted based on precise measurements of OCG-Data’s motion. The platform’s motion log is based on the sensor output from the MTi-300 Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS), which measures the platform’s three-dimensional motion in real-time when impacted by ocean waves.
MTi-300 Real-Time Measurement of Platform’s Three-Dimensional MotionThe data processing and transmission system on OCG-Data was developed by embedded vision and sensor system experts Tachysséma Développement. Handling the high-speed data output from the MTi-300 is a challenge, but Tachysséma Développement has proposed an excellent and clever solution. They developed a custom co-processor based on FPGA technology that can quickly process data from up to eight sensor inputs in parallel. With this solution, the co-processor can smoothly handle motion data from the MTi-300, ensuring accurate sensor fusion and precise environmental monitoring.
Tachysséma Développement Co-Processor Handling Motion Sensor Input Signals from MTi-300
Tachysséma Développement Co-Processor Installed on the OCG-Data Platform
Nicolas Roddier, Director of Tachysséma Développement, explained why the MTi-300 is the best choice for this demanding application: “Tachysséma Développement has been using MTi sensors in other systems for over five years, and they have always operated reliably. The MTi sensor is the best choice for the OCG-Data installation because it is widely used in the maritime field. With an IP67 rated housing and robust design, it can withstand the harsh conditions of the Mediterranean. The MTi-300 features RS-422 and RS-232 interfaces, making it easy to connect.As the number of wind turbines installed continues to increase, contributing to zero-carbon energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, Tachysséma Développement’s co-processor module and MTi-300 play a crucial role in capturing the data needed by wind farm developers.
Company Profile
Movella Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., established on March 29, 2019, is located in the Shanghai Intelligent Sensor Industry Park. The company is dedicated to solving problems in intelligent perception, monitoring, and interaction applications for any movable object using sensing technology. Integrated with hardware and software, it provides comprehensive motion solutions for capturing, digitizing, and analyzing motion data, which have been widely adopted in entertainment, sports, health, autonomous vehicles, drones, industrial robots, and livestock farming. With module-level and system-level solutions for multi-sensor fusion, it offers convenient technical interconnectivity, thereby changing the way people interact with life, production, and business operations. It possesses high-precision algorithms for different segments (animal wearables, human wearables, machine wearables) and has experience in the design and production of mobile IoT (IoMT) hardware and software integration and sensor modules, fully leveraging AI for real-time analysis and big data management.
Movella is committed to revolutionizing the motion sensor market, achieving seamless interaction between the physical and digital worlds.
