MARTECH
MARTECH
CodaOctopus MARTECH specialises in the design, development and manufacture of electronic and mechanical systems for extremely demanding applications where accuracy, reliability and robustness are of paramount importance, and focuses on meeting the stringent requirements of the defence, aerospace, nuclear, pharmaceutical and offshore industries. The following are selected examples from the diverse range of projects completed by Martech for our exacting customers:
SPECIAL TEST EQUIPMENT back to top
Martech develop highly specialised test equipment for a diverse range of applications, including production test equipment and field test equipment.
Aircraft Sensor Production Test Equipment
Developed for a leading manufacturer of aerospace sensors and systems, this special test equipmentis used in the production of Inert Gas Sensors which measure the concentration of oxygen and the pressure of the gas in an aircraft fuel tank. 
The sensor must comply with aerospace standards and is calibrated and tested at a range of temperatures, pressures and concentrations. The calibration cycle can take 5 hours if done manually whilst the performance test can take 3 hours making this ideal for automating. The ATE has successfully reduced the time for a cycle of tests down to 3.5 hours and 2 hours respectively, producing consistent and accurate results. Martech's specially developed test equipment can test up to 6 units at once, in any combination, detecting failures as they occur and recording the results in spreadsheet format.
Medical Blood Diagnostics Production Test Equipment
Developed for an international manufacturer of Blood Analysis Technologies, this equipment is used to test and calibrate a range of specialised sensors. Different sensors are used to detect specific chemicals including sodium, potassium, lithium and calcium, and a further type of sensor measures pH.
The sensors are tiny electro-chemical cells that generate a few mV output when in the presence of the chemical to which they are sensitive. This voltage is extremely difficult to measure as the sensors have a source impedance in the region of 1000MOhm. In the blood analyser the sample to be tested is passed through the sensor. For test and calibration, specially formulated fluids are passed through the sensor. The production test equipment subjects a batch of sensors to a sequence of test-fluid strengths, with intermediate cleansing cycles. The signals from the sensors are multiplexed to a measurement and data logging system. The measured values are analysed providing pass/fail results for each sensor. In addition the equipment logs the actual values measured, for archive and traceability purposes. A PC, provides the operator interface and controls the sequencing, measurement and data logging. The test equipment is based upon an existing "stripped-down" blood analyser already fitted with the pumps and valves needed to sequence the test and cleansing fluid cycles.
HV Circuit Board Test Set
Sister company CodaOctopus R&D manufactures a highly sophisticated sonar system which is housed in a pressure rated underwater housing. 
During manufacture it is necessary to test some of the circuit boards as a set, requiring them to be assembled and connected to test equipment. Traditionally this was done 'in-situ', in the underwater housing, however, this is both fiddly and time consuming and if a part of the board set is found to be faulty, disassembling the unit wastes time. To overcome this, Martech designed and manufactured a special test rig allowing the board set to be fully tested before installation. As the boards in question generate high voltages (HV) and heat, the rig included a quick-release heat-sink mechanism and extensive interlocks as well as physical protection from potential HV electric shocks.
MILITARY EQUIPMENT back to top
With roots in UK defence research, Martech have a long history of developing equipment and solutions for military equipment.
Vehicle Weather data Display System
Developed and manufactured on behalf of a leading defence supplier, Martech designed a ruggedised meteorological (weather) instrumentation display unit, 
which is currently in service with a number of foreign militaries, including the US Army on their Stryker vehicle. The Display Unit receives metrological data from a custom sensor suite, and processes and displays it in real-time. With full military approvals, the unit has been extensively tested for shock, vibration and EMC. Several hundred units have been supplied to date.
Tracked vehicle suspension controller
When a leading expert in tracked vehicle running gear wanted to add electronic sensing and control capabilities to their vehicle suspension system,
Martech developed an extremely robust system to meet their exacting requirements. Used on a tracked military vehicle being manufactured for the UK Ministry of Defence, the controller allows remote selection of different suspension settings for different scenarios. As the vehicle is designed for use in war-zones the controller needs to be extremely rugged and tolerant to a wide range of failure modes including complete loss of one or more of the four suspension units under control, short circuit or high voltage applied to its inputs and outputs.
Special Purpose Oven
Responding to an unusual request from a the Defence Science and Technology Labs (DSTL), part of the UK MoD, Martech designed, developed and manufactured a special experimental oven with closed circuit air-circulation and filtering, high speed heating and precision temperature control. Manufactured in high grade stainless steel, this project was primarily a mechanical design project but required a high degree of ingenuity to achieve the demanding specification, and is one of many mechanical deign projects Martech have developed.
Ship’s Telegraph
For many years, a ship's telegraph used to relay commands such as 'full ahead' from the bridge to the engine room was a simple yet effective system and bringing into the 21st century was an interesting challenge. Needing to be robust, reliable and unambiguous, the answer-back telegraph system looks and operates like a traditional system but employs highly reliable LED illumination, and microprocessor control. Designed to be installed in place of existing systems and existing ship's wiring the replacement telegraph provides enhanced levels of communications, feedback and fault tolerance.
Experimental Naval Countermeasures Technology
Working closely with Defence Science and Technology Labs (DSTL), part of the UK MoD, and a leading UK defence supplier, Martech has developed specialised technology used on board UK naval vessels as part of their weapons countermeasures systems. Designed to be retrofitted to existing ships equipment the system needed to fit in a small and difficult space, to withstand high levels of shock and vibration as well as ocean spray whilst meeting stringent EMC requirements. Combining low level signal conditioning and data acquisition with high current switching in a tight space, the resultant system has proved very successful in operations
PROTOTYPE & PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT back to top
Although almost exclusively focussed on developing technology for special applications, Martech have a strong track record in developing products for other companies. Whether involved in a small part of a large system or a complete product designs Martech can help from concept through manufacture to after sales support.
Thermal Printer
Originally developed by Ultra Electronics, Sister Company CodaOctopus Products Limited (COPL) acquired the thermal printer product 
line in 2004. With well over 1000 printers sold world-wide for applications in both, defence and commercial geophysics Martech worked closely with COPL to manufacture and support the existing design. After several years supporting the old design, Martech have now undertaken a complete redesign of the original electronics, replacing 6 boards with a single unit that can be retro fitted to existing printers. In addition to providing an upgrade path for the many printers in the field, this major redesign adds many new features whilst retaining all of the functionality of the original.
Dolphin Monitor
Know as the C-POD, a highly innovative acoustic device developed for a leading expert in the field of cetacean monitoring, the system automatically identifies echo-location 'clicks' produced by cetaceans such as dolphins and porpoises, and logs the data for scientific research and environmental monitoring purposes. This unique process of click train recognition filters out non-cetacean clicks and gives reliable data on the presence of the animals and some indication of their behaviour. With over 1000 units supplied, the C-POD has been very well received by the scientific community.
Life Support Battery Packs
Intended to provide emergency backup power on deep-sea diving bells, Martech have designed and manufactured a number of high 
performance lithium battery packs for a leading diving equipment manufacturer. Housed in 500m rated stainless-steel subsea housings, the battery packs can deliver a continuous 6A at 24V for over 24 hours at 0°C. Included in each pack is a specially developed power monitor which measures and logs the drain on the batteries to keep an accurate track of the remaining capacity. Additional battery monitors have also been supplied for use in existing lead-acid sub-sea batteries. Designed to stringent customer specifications each battery packs was individually tested and certified to achieve Lloyds approval.
CONTROL & INSTRUMENTATION back to top
Closely related to special test equipment, control and instrumentation requires a detailed understanding of the challenges faced by the customer, to measure and process signals and control critical processes. With a long history of working with the UK's academic and defence science communities, Martech can help to put theory into practice..
Atomic Fusion Experimental Controller
By exciting radioactive gasses with high voltage at high frequencies, the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) experimental facility at Culham Oxfordshire, aims to generate energy through atomic fusion (combining atomic particles as opposed to splitting atoms). Working closely with UKAEA scientists, Martech have helped to develop special instrumentation used to control part of the fusion reaction process. Operating in real-time to predict the occurrence of problems with the antennae which excite radioactive gasses to produce plasma, the system, draws on Martech's extensive experience of putting complex conceptual ideas in to practice, whilst making full use of UKAEA detailed scientific knowledge and understanding of the fusion process and the associated problems. The system is currently being evaluated by UKAEA and if the process is successful may be used on the forthcoming large scale ITER fusion reactor, currently under construction.
Subsea Tidal-Flow Turbine Instrumentation
Martech have developed instrumentation, acquisition and telemetry to monitor and control an experimental 350kW sub-sea tidal-stream power generation turbine. Monitoring every aspect of the turbine with a diverse range of sensors including strain, torque, speed, direction, power and tidal flow, the system enables operators to monitor and control the state of the turbine around the clock. In addition, the control system monitors its own state and can shut down automatically if necessary. Contained in pressure-rated underwater housings, all aspects of the system are duplicated for safety, and make use of both custom designed electronics and off-the shelf control and instrumentation technology such as NI's Labview. Specially designed uninterruptable power supplies (UPS), on-board data logging and fibre-optic data communication ensure that the state of the turbine is always know and that the turbine is always operating safely.
MANUFACTURING & RAPID PROTOTYPING back to top
Whether for quantities 1, 5 or 500, Martech build and deliver high quality electronic and electrical assemblies, and specialise in less straight-forward manufacturing associated with small volume, prototypes or legacy equipment support. Martech can provide a complete manufacturing service covering all aspects from circuit board assembly and wiring looms through to complete system assembly & test.
