The Mobile Control Room: your temporary commissioning brain

The Mobile Control Room (MCR) is a fully containerized, climate-controlled command center that serves as a temporary DCS during Advanced Loop Check operations. It is not a replacement for the permanent control system — it is an engineering-grade platform deployed specifically to accelerate commissioning by enabling field verification before the permanent infrastructure is ready.

The MCR connects to field-deployed Pelicases via industrial wireless mesh network, creating a complete temporary commissioning environment that operates independently of the permanent DCS, Control Room, and FIR.

What the MCR does

• Reads and injects loop signals in real time
• Interrogates smart instruments via HART protocol
• Compares actual field data with the Instrument Index
• Executes automated test sequences
• Generates digitally signed test reports with timestamps
• Guides troubleshooting with deficiency classification

What the MCR does not replace

• Permanent DCS/SIS/F&G systems
• Cause-and-effect logic
• Operator graphics and HMI
• Final SAT integration
• Permanent network architecture

Hardware specifications

Container infrastructure

• Climate-controlled 20ft ISO container (supervision room) with integrated 10ft technical room
• Designed for outdoor deployment on construction sites, yards, and offshore platforms
• Independent power supply with industrial UPS (4+ hours autonomy)
• Operational within 48 hours of site delivery

Computing and I/O

• Industrial hardened PC (i7/i9, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD)
• 15-inch industrial touchscreen displays
• Managed 8-port Ethernet switch
• Modular I/O chassis (Siemens ET200SP or Emerson CIOC compatible)
• Modules: 4-20mA analog, 24VDC digital, multiplexed HART

Software platform

• Acuer proprietary Smart Commissioning platform
• Signal reading, injection, and comparison engine
• HART interrogation module
• Automated test sequences with Instrument Index cross-reference
• PDF report generation with NTP timestamps and PKI digital signatures

Network infrastructure

• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) industrial mesh network
• WPA3 Enterprise encryption
• Directional and omnidirectional high-gain antennas
• Designed to overcome metallic multipath in offshore and petrochemical environments
• Strictly isolated from client IT/OT networks (air-gapped)
• AES-256 end-to-end encryption between MCR and all Pelicases
• Compliant with IEC 62443 cybersecurity framework

Deployment scenarios

Scenario 1: Fabrication yard

MCR installed at the yard, connected to local equipment rooms via Wi-Fi bridges. Acts as temporary DCS server for zone-by-zone loop testing while modules are still under construction.

Scenario 2: Integration yard

MCR acts as extension gateway, interconnecting local equipment rooms and the Control Room via Wi-Fi bridges. Multiplies operator stations (MCR and/or remote tablets) near modules to accelerate commissioning tests and limit Control Room access.

Scenario 3: Offshore installation

MCR deployed in safe area on platform or FPSO. Wireless mesh connects to Pelicases in hazardous areas. Full commissioning capability without depending on permanent infrastructure readiness.

Architecture: hub and spoke

The MCR operates in a hub-and-spoke architecture. The MCR is the hub — centralizing data, running analysis, and coordinating test execution. Pelicases are the spokes — deployed at Junction Boxes across the facility, each handling multiple loops in its area.

A single MCR can supervise up to 60 simultaneous loops across multiple work fronts, with data flowing in real time from field to container.

Performance data

• 48 hours from delivery to full operational capability
• 60 simultaneous loops under test
• 4+ work fronts supervised in parallel
• Real-time data with sub-second latency
• 100% digital documentation — zero paper-based records

Compliance

• IEC 62443 — Industrial cybersecurity (isolated VLAN, DPI firewalls, hardened OS)
• IEC 62382 — Loop check integration and Credit Transfer documentation
• IEC 61508/61511 — SIL-rated testing for safety-critical loops
• ATEX/IECEx — MCR operates from safe area with wireless connectivity to classified zones

Frequently asked questions

Can the MCR work with any DCS vendor?

Yes. The MCR is protocol-agnostic. It interfaces with field instruments directly via 4-20mA and HART, independent of the permanent DCS vendor (Honeywell, Emerson, Yokogawa, ABB, Siemens). The MCR validates the field portion of the loop — the vendor-specific DCS integration happens during final SAT.

Is the wireless network reliable enough for offshore environments?

We deploy industrial-grade mesh networks with directional high-gain antennas designed specifically for metallic environments (FPSO hulls, steel structures). This is not commercial Wi-Fi — it is a purpose-built industrial network with redundant paths, guaranteed latency, and zero packet loss for control data.

How does the MCR integrate with the project schedule?

The MCR enables a parallel approach: while construction continues and the permanent Control Room is being commissioned, field loop testing proceeds simultaneously. This transforms passive waiting time into active pre-commissioning, typically saving 4 to 6 months on the commissioning schedule.

Ready to deploy a Mobile Control Room on your project?

Contact our engineering team to discuss your site layout, I/O count, and deployment timeline. We will provide a tailored MCR configuration and logistics plan.