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AutoSlack
Automated Slack
Control Submarine Cable Lay System
The AutoSlack module allows the
MakaiLay system to automatically control bottom slack by either controlling
cable payout rate (the most common method) or by adjusting ship
speed.
 The software uses
Makai's 3-D dynamic
monitoring algorithms to predict the near-future cable shapes, touchdown and
slack conditions. It computes the
appropriate cable payout speed or the appropriate ship speed in order to
achieve the desired seafloor cable slack.
The
system can adjust cable payout rate to compensate for changes in ship speed
coupled with changes in the dynamic cable shape. Autoslack
can be directly coupled with the cable handling equipment.
Adjusting the ship speed can
be used if the cable engine fails and the ship has to back-up or while a
repeater is deployed and there is no control of the LCE speed. In this case, AutoSlack
will provide speed instructions to the vessel to keep bottom
slack constant.
The system
computes future cable conditions and graphically displays the future cable shape profiles, future
bottom slack, surface slack, ship speed, payout speed, bottom tension, and
surface tension.
Slack control operates in any of
the following four modes:
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Off:
Slack control is not operational.
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Manual:
Slack control computations are completed and displayed, but automatic
adjustments are not made to ship speed or cable payout.
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LCE Payout: Slack control computes the proper LCE speed in order to achieve the
proper seafloor slack under current and future conditions. LCE instructions are
sent digitally.
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Ship Speed:
Slack control computes the proper ship speed to maintain the required
seafloor slack. Results are
provided graphically and digitally.
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