Who we are: intelligent control systems for industrial machines

CPAC Systems develops intelligent control systems for industrial machines. Since 1999 we have combined hardware, software and vehicle integration to help OEMs build off-highway, marine and industrial machines that are safer, smarter and easier to operate. This article explains what we do, how our offer fits together and who we work with.

Key takeaways

• CPAC Systems is a product company with more than 300 employees, 80+ patents and over 25 years of work in machine control.
• Our offer covers the whole chain: the Orbit vehicle platform, a hardware ecosystem and operator-focused solutions.
• Our products are built for harsh environments, vibration, water, dust and wide temperature ranges.
• OEMs can use one component, combine several, or build a complete system with us.

Why industrial machines need intelligent control systems

Industrial machines are becoming as much about software and electronics as about steel and hydraulics. Excavators, wheel loaders, forestry machines and boats now carry displays, cameras, sensors and connectivity that did not exist a decade ago. Each new function adds signals to route, software to maintain and information to present to the operator.

For an OEM, that creates three challenges:

• Complexity. More electronic units, more communication buses, more software versions to keep in sync.
• The operator. More information is only useful if the operator can understand it quickly, in a noisy cab, in rain or direct sunlight.
• Time to market. Building every function from scratch for every machine model is slow and costly.

An intelligent control system addresses all three. It brings machine functions, software and operator interaction together on one platform, so new features can be added without rebuilding the whole system.

What CPAC Systems does

We develop the systems that sit between the machine and the operator: the central computing, the displays and sensors, the software platform and the functions built on top of it.

A platform for software-defined machines

Orbit is our vehicle platform for industrial machines. It is built in four layers:

1. Hardware: the Hydra ECU together with displays, cameras, sensors and I/O modules.
2. Software platform: shared services for data routing, diagnostics, configuration, connectivity, access control and software updates.
3. Applications: machine functions such as situational awareness, operator assistance, digital commissioning and machine guidance.
4. User interface: owned by the customer, designed by us, or developed together.

Because common logic is handled by the platform, OEMs can configure, adapt and expand vehicle functions through software, and scale the same platform across machine types and feature levels.

Hardware built for harsh environments

Our hardware ecosystem gives OEMs the building blocks for a digital machine:

• Hydra ECU: the central node of a digital HMI system, with 6 × CAN/CAN FD, 2 × LIN, automotive Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE, GNSS positioning and four camera inputs. It runs on 8-32 V, is rated IP67 and has homologation approval in more than 60 countries.
• Display suite: operator displays in 8", 12.8" and 24" curved formats, for everything from secondary functions to a full digital operator environment.
• IMU2.1: position and motion data for machine control, guidance and load weighing, delivered over CAN (SAE J1939).
• APC: a control and integration unit that works standalone or inside an existing vehicle architecture.
• Camera F/S: a camera system with surround views and automatic view changes for situational awareness.

Solutions for the operator

On top of the platform and hardware, we build solutions for the people who run the machines:

• Situational awareness: cameras, sensors, displays and vehicle data combined to show what is happening around the machine.
• Operator assistance and productivity: machine data, digital interfaces and guidance that reduce workload and make daily operation more consistent.
• Digital operator environment: displays, controls and information that work together, so complex machines are easier to understand.
• Digital commissioning: a digital process for machine setup, configuration and validation that reduces manual work at delivery.

Industries we work in

We work with OEMs in off- and on-highway applications such as construction and other demanding worksites, in marine, and in other industrial machine segments. For boat builders, our Marivue brand offers a digital helm experience that builders can present under their own brand.

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What 25 years of machine control has taught us

We have delivered control systems since 1999, and today around 500,000 units leave us every year. A few lessons shape how we work.

Reliability is designed in, not tested in. Machines operate in water, dust, vibration and temperature swings, often far from service. That is why environmental requirements are part of our designs from the first concept, not a test at the end.

The operator decides if a system works. A function that is hard to understand in a cab will not be used. We design displays, camera views and assistance functions around what the operator needs to see and do.

Machines change after they are built. New functions, new regulations and new customer demands arrive during a machine's life. A software-defined platform lets OEMs update and add functions without redesigning the electronics.

Every OEM starts from a different place. Some need one component that fits an existing architecture. Others want a complete system. Our products are built to work both ways.

What this means for OEMs

Working with CPAC Systems can start where your need is today:

• One component: an operator display, an IMU or a camera system that connects to your existing architecture.
• Several components: combined around the Hydra ECU for a digital operator environment.
• A complete platform: Orbit with hardware, software and applications, and a user interface you own, we design, or we build together.

We work closely with your engineering team from early concept to series production, with experience in vehicle integration and safety-critical functionality.

What's next

In Insights we will go deeper into the topics behind our offer: Follow CPAC Systems on LinkedIn to see new articles.

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Frequently asked questions

What is an intelligent control system for industrial machines?

It is the combination of electronics, software and operator interface that controls a machine's functions and presents information to the operator. It connects sensors, cameras, displays and machine data on one platform, so functions such as situational awareness and operator assistance can be added and updated through software.

What is a software-defined machine?

A software-defined machine is one where functions are configured and expanded through software rather than fixed in hardware. With a platform like Orbit, OEMs can add features, update software and scale the same system across machine models.

Can CPAC Systems products work with third-party systems?

Yes. Our products can be combined into a complete CPAC Systems solution, integrated with Orbit, or connected to third-party systems already in the machine's architecture, using standard interfaces such as CAN, CAN FD, LIN and Ethernet.

Which industries does CPAC Systems work with?

We work with OEMs in off- and on-highway applications such as construction, in marine, and in other industrial machine segments where reliability and operator safety are critical.

Can we design our own operator interface?

Yes. With Orbit, the user interface can be owned and built by the OEM, designed by CPAC Systems, or developed together.

Talk to us

Are you developing a machine that needs a control platform, operator displays or situational awareness? Explore Orbit, our hardware and solutions, or contact us to discuss your machine.

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