Light Structures AS has launched ARGUS-VM, a virtual Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system that aims to reduce lifecycle costs across vessels and fleets by enhancing condition-based maintenance and performance monitoring.
The technology was developed to support compliance with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) SMART(SHM) Tier 1 notation, based around a sensor-free approach to monitoring hull integrity.
The system delivers this by combining real-world Automatic Identification System (AIS) data and hindcast wave models with vessel-specific digital models to generate estimates of structural stress and fatigue. This allows users to gain insight into hull health without the installation of physical sensors.
The platform uses a virtual monitoring engine to transform vessel position, speed, and environmental data into structural health indicators and fatigue trends in near real time. Data is delivered via onboard or shore-based interfaces, while an integrated Application Programming Interface (API) enables connection to other class-approved technologies and digital platforms.
The system also provides an upgrade path to full sensor-based monitoring, aligning with Tier 3 of the ABS notation. This level involves onboard sensing using the SENSFIB platform to provide real-time safety alerts and high-fidelity data on stress, fatigue accumulation, slamming events, and vibration effects.
