Integration testing services for control system software

Modern vessels and rigs are equipped with sophisticated data systems. Control system software from several suppliers must work simultaneously together as an integrated system to achieve the desired and required safety and operational performance.

Integration hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing from DNV GL includes both the verification of signals and interfaces as well as the testing and verification of integrated functionality. 

Relevant system candidates for integration testing are any control systems with connections and dependencies to other control systems. Some control systems are more tightly integrated than others, such as dynamic positioning (DP) systems,  power management systems (PMS), thrust control systems and drill floor/well/BOP control systems. The PMS is important for many other systems, and integration testing for PMS and large power consumers should be included.

Testing is carried out systematically in a controlled environment

HIL testing is accomplished by connecting the targeted control systems to our HIL real-time simulator (CyberSea HIL simulator), that we developed ourselves. The CyberSea simulator represents the vessel/rig, as well as its systems and environment and responds to commands from the target control systems. Feedback from sensors and actuators to the control systems are simulated in a realistic manner according to unit-specific equipment. The different control systems are connected together and respond as they would in real operations on board the vessel or rig. 

The control systems can be tested either in a test set-up at a vendor location or in a virtual test bed in a HIL test lab. As the test does not need to be performed on board the vessel/rig, the test laboratory established during the project may be used to provide life-cycle services for each control system as well as their integration.

Leverage the benefits of integration testing from DNV GL:

• Integration testing helps you to ensure proper coordination of functions between several control systems
• We secure  that  decisions taken from one system serve as a proper basis for the actions of another system
• Integration testing detects mismatch of signal units and scaling between different vendors
• Gain insights into  whether the various vendors have used different operating philosophy when designing and developing the control systems operating together which might lead to errors