IFIC meeting - 25/11/2025

Acronyms

UPV: Universitat Politècnica de València
TAB: Transmitter Acoustic Beacon
MSM: Mediterráneo Señales Marítimas
EMC: Electromagnetic Compatibility
PCBA: Printed Circuit Board Assembly
IPC 600 / 610 / 620 / 7711 / 7721: International IPC standards for PCB fabrication, assembly, and rework
UPI: Unique Product Identifier
HASS: Highly Accelerated Stress Screening
HALT: Highly Accelerated Life Test
NRB: Non Conformance Review Board
DCR: Design Change Request

Beacon Versions

• Autonomous and controlled versions are being reviewed
• V2 improvements include overcurrent protection and an electromagnetic filter
• Carlos Alvarez to provide the EMC report
• Changes from V1 to V2 described by Miquel

Software and Design

MSM supports UPV for design and Beacon integration

• UPV-Gandia: CAD software used for V2, version 03?
  • Action: Confirm with MSM CAD software used
• Electronics boards manufactured by ROMPAL
• MSM contacted regarding V3 transformer issues; a new design was validated
• Documentation is stored on GDRIVE
• All beacons in the sea are version 3 for TAB (previously refurbished)

Cable and Molding

• Cable molding reviewed during an audit with Giorgio (air bubble inside the molding)

Assembly Procedure

54 Beacons already produced over approximately 10 years.

It seems a not written procedure is applied. More industrial approach must be applied.

Action (Miquel with Stéphane's help): Prepare / review the complete assembly procedure (from component storage, bake-out, soldering procedure too final tests and inspections...)

Action Miquel :

•  
• Check UPV procedure with MSM employees to address connector and Piezo soldering procedure (based on standard IPC-620)
• Check electronics boards assembly (PCBA) ROMPAL reports
• Quality level? PCB: IPC-600 - PCBA: IPC-610 class 3?
• Reworking procedure for electronics? (IPC-7711/7721)
•  

Variant and UPI

• Electronic board variants are not described in the existing Beacon variant (relates only to mechanics)
  • Action: Create new variants
• New UPIs need to be assigned to refurbished beacons (Liz to coordinate with Cristiano)
• Firmware variants also proposed by Liz for changes
• Autonomous beacon: re-flashing is not possible on site
•  

Components

• ASA material for 3D printing
• Super capacitors were not used; research smaller resistance options
  • Action: Ask Carlos to investigate about capacitors
  •  

Testing and Validation

• HASS testing results available in the NRB folder from APPLUS and ROMPAL
• HALT testing by IFIC; results to be reviewed
• Pressure, vibration, and ON/OFF cycle tests
  • Action: Ask MSM for report
  • Action: Check report to confirm if ON/OFF cycles have been performed
• Hyperbaric testing at Burgos, Spain
• Rust prevention measures discussed

Note: More rust observed on autonomous version because container is in aluminum

Recommendation: Use titanium instead of aluminum also for autonomous beacon

Transducer and Integration

• Transducer from Canada with Macartney sensor technology
  • Action: Impedance analysis required
• Some failures due to overcurrent; collecting info on past issues (Daniele to gather data)
  • Note: A lot of issues for version 3
• Note: Powering out of water involves cooling, mechanical impedance, and thermal considerations
  • Action: Do not test out of water
  •  

Refurbishment and Repairs

• No pressure test done for refurbished TABs at CASERTA → could explain new issues!?
  • Action: Verify if pressure tests were conducted for refurbished units. Perform pressure test after each refurbishment
• Aluminum deformations noted in some refurbished units
  • ACTION: Open a DCR for the flange thickness design changes for autonomous beacon (aluminum)
  • Action: Assign a new UPI for refurbished units (with changes applied)
• Action: CNR sea operation procedures to be requested for assembly

Important note: Functional tests are performed before and after pressure tests. Then an intermittent failure could not be seen if it occurs at high pressure and disappears at atmospheric pressure (could be the case as piezo and soldering are submitted to high pressure)

Action: Daniele and Stéphane propose to prepare an active pressure test with a beacon emitter triggered from outside and a hydrophone to measure beacon emission. Daniele have a feed-through on their hyperbaric chamber at Caserta. He will prepare the material and procedure.

Action: UPV send beacon - Daniele confirm date for pressure test. Stéphane can help to prepare the procedure.

Failure Modes and Control

• Autonomous beacons have different failure modes compared to connected beacons
• Miquel to compile a list of repairs, focusing on full control of past issues
•  

Summary of Actions

Carlos Alvarez

1. Provide the EMC report for Beacons
2. Investigate smaller resistance options for super capacitors

Giorgio

1. Review cable molding audit with Puma syncV

Liz

1. Coordinate new UPI assignment for refurbished beacons with Cristiano
2. Propose firmware variants for changes

Daniele

1. Collect information on past failures and integration issues (overcurrent problems)
2. Prepare active pressure test with beacon emitter and hydrophone at Caserta hyperbaric chamber
3. Confirm date for pressure test with UPV

Miquel (with Stéphane's help)

1. Prepare the complete assembly procedure (from component storage, bakeout, soldering procedure to final tests and inspections)
2. Compile a list of repairs and ensure full control over past issues

MSM

1. Confirm CAD software version used for V2
2. Provide report on pressure, vibration, and ON/OFF cycle tests
3. Address connector and Piezo soldering procedure with UPV (based on IPC-620 standard)

UPV

1. Review assembly and validation processes
2. Check PCBA ROMPAL reports for quality level verification
3. Send beacon to Daniele for pressure testing

General Actions

1.  
2. Create new variants for electronic board and firmware configurations
3. Verify if pressure tests were conducted for refurbished units
4. Perform pressure tests after each refurbishment going forward
5. Open a DCR for flange thickness design changes for autonomous beacon (aluminum)
6. Assign new UPI for refurbished units with changes applied
7. Request CNR sea operation procedures for assembly
8. Do not test beacons out of water
9. Consider using titanium instead of aluminum for autonomous beacon containers
10. Conduct impedance analysis on transducers

Stéphane

1. Help Miquel prepare complete assembly procedure
2. Help prepare active pressure test procedure with Daniele

AoB?

Please do not hesitate to comment?

What next? New NRB meeting? Establisk a planing?