SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION

VOYAGE DATA RECORDER

Model: HLD-B2/HLD-S2

Code HLD16 ST
Version V1.3
Date 2008.02

BEIJING HIGHLANDER DIGITAL RECORD

TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
 Highlander HLD-B2/HLD-S2 VDR/SVDR System Description

Notes and Updates

Revisions:
Date Ver Issue by Description
2006.08 V1.0 Gang H Created
2007.06 V1.1 Liancai Gao Modification of AMU and DCU according to
improved designs
2007.10 V1.2 M Miao Modification
2008.02 V1.3 Jinzhan Gao Modification

Beijing Highlander Digital Record Technology Co., Ltd.

Address:A605-606, SPTower Tsinghua Science Park Building, Beijing, 100084, P.R.China
Tel:+86-10-82678888 Fax:+86-10-82150083
E-mail: market@highlander.com.cn / service@highlander.com.cn www.highlander.com.cn
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 Highlander HLD-B2/HLD-S2 VDR/SVDR System Description

CONTENTS
1. General..................................................................................................................4

2. Units ......................................................................................................................4

2.1. Main Unit (MU)..............................................................................................5

2.1.1. Data Converting Unit (DCU) .................................................................5
2.1.2. Audio Mixer Unit (AMU).......................................................................5
2.1.3. Video Multiplexer Unit (VMU)..............................................................6
2.1.4. System Integration Unit (SIU) ...............................................................6
2.1.5. Ethernet switch Unit (ETU) ...................................................................6
2.1.6. DC/DC Converter ...................................................................................6
2.2. Power Supply Unit (PSU)..............................................................................6
2.3. System Control Unit (SCU) and Remote System Control Unit (RSCU)...6
2.4. Microphone(Interior and Exterior)..............................................................7
2.5. Protected Data Unit (PDU) ...........................................................................7
2.6. Data Acquisition Unit (DAU) ........................................................................7

3. VDR System Block Diagram...............................................................................8

4. Input Data.............................................................................................................8

5. Stored Data ...........................................................................................................9

6. Alarm/Warning ....................................................................................................9

7. Data outputs .........................................................................................................9

8. Service .................................................................................................................10

Beijing Highlander Digital Record Technology Co., Ltd.

Address:A605-606, SPTower Tsinghua Science Park Building, Beijing, 100084, P.R.China
Tel:+86-10-82678888 Fax:+86-10-82150083
E-mail: market@highlander.com.cn / service@highlander.com.cn www.highlander.com.cn
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 Highlander HLD-B2/HLD-S2 VDR/SVDR System Description

1. General
The HLD-B2 VDR, a “full VDR”, is designed to meet the performance
requirements and technical characteristics for ship borne voyage data recorder (VDR)
as required by the earlier published IMO Resolution A.861 and IEC 61996.

2. Units
The HLD-B2 VDR consists of following units:

Main Unit (MU) Main Unit consists of:

Data Converting Unit (DCU)
Audio Mixer Unit (AMU)
Video Multiplexer Unit (VMU)
System Integration Unit (SIU)
Ethernet switch Unit (ETU)
DC/DC Converter
Power Supply Unit (PSU) The input to PSU can be ship power 110/220 V
AC or Ship emergency power 24 V DC
Remote System Control Unit It can used to operate the system and display
(RSCU) alarm information (optional).
Final Recording Medium (FRM) Placed in the Protected Data Unit (PDU).
Without special description, FRM and PDU are
the same in VDR manual series.
Microphone (Interior and exterior) Used to record bridge audio.
Data Acquisition Unit (DAU) It can convert non-standard serial signals to
(Optional) standard serial signals and send them to MU.

The MU and PSU are enclosed in separate steel cabinets. They can be placed
anywhere on the bridge or in the vicinity of the bridge. The SCU is mounted
embedded on the front door of the MU and the RSCU instrument shall be placed at
the conning navigation work station on the bridge.

The daily user communication with the VDR is via SCU. There is no
human-machine interface on any other unit. For service and for closer communication
with the VDR, a portable PC/laptop can be connected to the MU. An external ship’s
computer can also be connected to the VDR via a local network.

Beijing Highlander Digital Record Technology Co., Ltd.

Address:A605-606, SPTower Tsinghua Science Park Building, Beijing, 100084, P.R.China
Tel:+86-10-82678888 Fax:+86-10-82150083
E-mail: market@highlander.com.cn / service@highlander.com.cn www.highlander.com.cn
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 Highlander HLD-B2/HLD-S2 VDR/SVDR System Description

The data gathered by the VDR is stored in FRM (PDU). The VDR system provide
two external interfaces, one for USB memory stick to copy data, the other for Ethernet
to download data by playback software. When the VDR is connected to an external
ship’s computer with network, data can be stored continuously to the computer by
using a special password. Replaying of data can be performed on any external PC
with Playback software installed and with data input via Ethernet or USB.

2.1. Main Unit (MU)

The main unit is enclosed in a steel cabinet, its outline size (excluding mounting
accessories) is approximately H540 × W430 × D210 mm for wall mounting. It has
one door in the front, and cable inlets are located in the bottom. The units are mounted
in the cabinet as shown in the figure below.

DC/DC converter

ETU

SCU SIU VMU AMU DCU

Figure 2-1 Front View of MU

2.1.1. Data Converting Unit (DCU)
The Data Converting Unit can receive signals from 16 IEC 61162-1/-2/NMEA
sources. The signal interface can be RS232 or RS485.

2.1.2. Audio Mixer Unit (AMU)

Beijing Highlander Digital Record Technology Co., Ltd.

Address:A605-606, SPTower Tsinghua Science Park Building, Beijing, 100084, P.R.China
Tel:+86-10-82678888 Fax:+86-10-82150083
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 Highlander HLD-B2/HLD-S2 VDR/SVDR System Description

The inputs of Audio Mixer Unit can be up to nine controlled microphones plus
three standard VHF or two non-standard VHF. All audio input signals are mixed into
four audio channels in AMU.

2.1.3. Video Multiplexer Unit (VMU)

Video Multiplexer Unit (VMU) can connect up to four video signals, one of them is
inputted to the system for storing according to the configuration. Besides this function,
the VMU distributes the 24V DC power from PSU to other parts of the VDR system,
and collects the pulse signal from Speed Log.

2.1.4. System Integration Unit (SIU)

The System Integration Unit includes the processor, sound card, video grabber card,
USB interface card and internal memory. It is mainly used for acquisition,
compression and storing of the data as well as for supervision of the VDR Software
System.

2.1.5. Ethernet switch Unit (ETU)

The Ethernet switch Unit is used for all external and internal Ethernet
communication.

2.1.6. DC/DC Converter

A separate DC/DC converter supplies the MU boards with needed DC power.

2.2. Power Supply Unit (PSU)

The Power Supply Unit is placed in a separate wall mounted steel cabinet, its
outline size (excluding mounting accessories) is H360 × W280 × D202.5mm. It can
be fed with ship’s AC power (220/110 VAC) as well as DC emergency power (24
VDC). The PSU supplies the VDR with 24 VDC. It also includes necessary batteries
to power the VDR for 2 hours audio recording if ship’s AC power and DC emergency
power are all lost.

2.3. System Control Unit (SCU) and Remote System Control Unit

Beijing Highlander Digital Record Technology Co., Ltd.

Address:A605-606, SPTower Tsinghua Science Park Building, Beijing, 100084, P.R.China
Tel:+86-10-82678888 Fax:+86-10-82150083
E-mail: market@highlander.com.cn / service@highlander.com.cn www.highlander.com.cn
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 Highlander HLD-B2/HLD-S2 VDR/SVDR System Description

(RSCU)
The System Control Unit is an alarm and control panel for the VDR. The SCU is
mounted embedded on the front door of the MU and the RSCU instrument shall be
placed at the conning navigation work station on the bridge. By operating the
“Backup” button on SCU (RSCU), data can be copied to an USB stick in the MU. The
alarm function tells what kind of alarm or warning is happening or happened.

2.4. Microphone(Interior and Exterior)

Microphones are used to capture sounds on the bridge and send them to the VDR
system. There are interior microphones and exterior microphones The interior
microphones are normally embedded on the ceiling near audio source, and the exterior
microphones are installed on both wings of the bridge. The enclosure protection of
exterior microphones is IP67. As a standard configuration, a VDR set includes four
interior microphones and two exterior microphones.

2.5. Protected Data Unit (PDU)

Final Recording Medium (FRM) is placed in a Protected Data Unit (PDU). It saves
voyage data for latest 12 hours and then starts to replace the oldest information with
newly acquired information, minute by minute. Data can be downloaded from PDU to
the USB memory stick, an external laptop computer or other ship’s PC permanently
connected by network.

2.6. Data Acquisition Unit (DAU)

The Data Acquisition Unit can receive and transform all analog and digital signals
which are from ship’s sensors，and send them to the Data Converting Unit (DCU).
DAU contains several data acquisition boards, such as DC voltage switching signal
input board (16 channels), AC voltage switching signal input board (8 channels),
analog current input board (4-20mA, 8 channels), analog voltage input board (-10V to
+10V, 8 channels), synchro motor signal input board (1 channel), passive dry contact
input board (16 channels), etc. These modules realize Analog to Digital conversion
functions and provide opto-isolations so that any fault developed by VDR will not
affect normal operations of other equipments connected to VDR. Communication
with the VDR main unit is accomplished via one of the RS485 ports on the DCU.

Beijing Highlander Digital Record Technology Co., Ltd.

Address:A605-606, SPTower Tsinghua Science Park Building, Beijing, 100084, P.R.China
Tel:+86-10-82678888 Fax:+86-10-82150083
E-mail: market@highlander.com.cn / service@highlander.com.cn www.highlander.com.cn
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 Highlander HLD-B2/HLD-S2 VDR/SVDR System Description

3. VDR System Block Diagram

Figure 3-1 System Block Diagram of HLD-B2 VDR

4. Input Data
Date/Time and Ship position is normally from the GPS in IEC61162/NMEA format.
These signals will be sent to the DCU in the Main Unit.

Normally this also holds for Speed, Heading and AIS information. Older Heading

Beijing Highlander Digital Record Technology Co., Ltd.

Address:A605-606, SPTower Tsinghua Science Park Building, Beijing, 100084, P.R.China
Tel:+86-10-82678888 Fax:+86-10-82150083
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 Highlander HLD-B2/HLD-S2 VDR/SVDR System Description

Gyros and Speed Logs may have the output in other format，but due to the regulations
for AIS installations, IEC61162/NMEA signals are often available. The VMU also
has input interface of pulse signals (200-20000 /n mile) from Speed Log.

The Audio Mixer Unit can connect up to nine controlled microphones plus three
standard VHF or two non-standard VHF. They are used to acquire audio information
on board. All audio input signals are mixed into four audio channels which are
connected to the audio card for storing. The microphones are of high performance
design and are available for embedded mounting. Normally 4-6 microphones and one
VHF channels satisfy the VDR regulation demands.

Radar image data received though VMU is prepared by video grabber card. One
picture every 15 second from the radar master display is sufficient for a normal VDR
installation to satisfy IMO requirements. Only when the radar has no video output and
no video interface is available on the market (i.e. special manufacturing is needed) it
is possible to omit the radar recording and to use the AIS information instead.

According to the regulation of IMO Resolution A.861 and the requirements of IEC
61162-2, any data available in IEC61162-2 format must be recorded.

Note that NMEA-like serial signals (so called non-standard formats) may, but does
not need to be recorded.

5. Stored Data
All data received through the DCU, AMU, VMU boards is prepared by the SIU and
sent to PDU (FRM). The ETU (Ethernet switch Unit) is for sending the Ethernet data
to correct addresses. Data is only stored on the PDU if no other directives are given.

6. Alarm/Warning
The SCU communicates with the MU by serial connection. If there is an alarm or a
warning condition in the VDR the SCU starts alarming. A short description of the
alarm is shown on the LCD display of SCU, but is also further explained in the User
Guide.

7. Data outputs
Beijing Highlander Digital Record Technology Co., Ltd.
Address:A605-606, SPTower Tsinghua Science Park Building, Beijing, 100084, P.R.China
Tel:+86-10-82678888 Fax:+86-10-82150083
E-mail: market@highlander.com.cn / service@highlander.com.cn www.highlander.com.cn
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 Highlander HLD-B2/HLD-S2 VDR/SVDR System Description

Data from the PDU can be downloaded by pressing the Back-up button on the SCU
for more than 5s. Those data will be stored on the USB Memory stick. Data can be
received to an external network connected ship’s PC or laptop. All VDR data is
protected by passwords.

8. Service
For service purpose it is possible to connect a service Laptop computer and work in
the VDR program by using a special password.

Beijing Highlander Digital Record Technology Co., Ltd.

Address:A605-606, SPTower Tsinghua Science Park Building, Beijing, 100084, P.R.China
Tel:+86-10-82678888 Fax:+86-10-82150083
E-mail: market@highlander.com.cn / service@highlander.com.cn www.highlander.com.cn
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