Unified bridge sets a new standard at sea

Icon DP (dynamic positioning) is the first of several software applications from Rolls-Royce Marine featuring the new, holistic Unified Bridge design. Icon DP forms an integrated system that automatically maintains a ship’s position or heading by using its propellers, rudders and thrusters. The intuitive user interface allows the operator to navigate with ease, increasing performance and overall operational safety.

Unified look and feel throughout

When Rolls-Royce Marine purchased several Norwegian maritime companies they inherited various products for controlling a ship’s bridge, all with different interfaces. The company’s vision was to develop a unified bridge that allowed all their digital applications to share the same logic and communicate in the same way by creating a common RRM look and feel throughout.

Design driven development is something we are passionate about. It allows us maximum insight into how customers use our products, therefore separating us from the competition.

Frøy Birte Bjørneseth, Principle Engineer – Human factors and Control Centres, Rolls-Royce Marine

Focusing on working practices

To achieve this ambition RRM appointed EGGS to help with the design and development. We jointly set about applying a user-driven design process, paying close attention to working practices on board whilst user testing various concepts. The goal was to make every function less complex, with seamless integration amongst all applications.

Reduced cognitive load for the user

The result is a totally remodelled solution, giving users a much clearer overview and reduced cognitive load. With proximity at the heart of its design, the system allows the user to directly interact with applications via large touchscreen interfaces. The common appearance of the menus provides a unified clarity, so that when the crew is faced with a challenging situation and is working with several systems in parallel, they can act fast, and accurately. As a whole, it’s a striking example of the role good design plays in harnessing technology to improve operator performance, simplicity and safety.

Breaking into new markets

Rolls-Royce Marine’s Unified Bridge - Icon DP is at the forefront of bridge design and has proved to be a resounding success. It’s being expanded with updated and exciting features for new markets. 6-7 vessels worldwide are in the process of being fitted with this innovative system and the feedback from users has been overwhelmingly positive.

Breaking into new markets

In April 2015, Unified Bridge - Icon DP won The Award for Design Excellence, presented by The Norwegian Design Council. RRM also won the Ergonomics Design Award in the UK, in September 2015.