The Device
TIDYNE
The only marine lift system certified for both cargo and personnel transfer — with triple-redundant braking and real-time anomaly detection.
Technical Specifications
| Capacity | 400 lb / 180 kg |
| Rated Speed | 170 FPM |
| Power Supply | 48V DC Battery Version |
| Motor | 1 kW Servo Motor |
| Encoder | Absolute Encoder |
| Certification | Personnel + Cargo (Human-Rated) |
| Braking Systems | 3 Independent (Triple Redundant) |
| Monitoring | Real-time Analytics + Anomaly Detection |
| Roadmap | Solar Power and Wind Power (In Development) |
Hardware
System Architecture
Engineered for reliable mounting and precise drive control in marine environments.
Mounting System
The TIDYNE mounting bracket clamps securely to booms, jib arms, king posts, and pad eyes — no permanent hull or structural modification required.
Drive System
1 kW servo motor with low-ratio worm gear reducer, managed by an electronic drive with programmable features. 48V DC battery with onboard backup — fully self-contained, no vessel power required. Regenerative braking on descent typically supports up to 10 lift/descent cycles per charge; beyond that, a secondary 110V charger (included) tops up the battery from shore or vessel auxiliary power.
Gear Reducer & Drum
Gear reducer connects to a helically-grooved wire rope drum via heavy-duty nickel-plated chain and sprocket drive — additional reduction ratio while keeping the device compact.
Safety
Braking System — In Detail
Two independent braking mechanisms, each capable of halting the full rated load on its own.
Emergency Gravity Brake
Installed directly on the rope drum shaft. Normally engaged (fail-safe) — a gravity mass acts as a mechanical servo to initiate powerful braking force, locking the drum. Automatically released during lifting via linear solenoid actuator, or manually via brake lever. The solenoid is off at least 50% of the time, preventing overheating during frequent cycles.
Automatic Centrifugal Brake
Installed on the extended worm (high-speed) shaft of the gear reducer. Activates automatically on overspeed — no operator action required.
Overspeed Control
~170 FPM / 2.8 FPS / 0.85 m/s
45 ft descent in approximately 14 seconds
Safety Mechanisms
Descent Control & Failure Response
Every failure mode is anticipated. The system responds automatically — with or without operator input.
Lowering speed is automatically controlled to a pre-set speed via intelligent torque and RPM adjustment. Smooth acceleration and deceleration ramps prevent sudden starts and stops — the person being lowered is never taken by surprise.
Normal Operation
170 FPM / 2.83 FPS / 0.86 m/s
45 ft descent in approximately 14 seconds
Releasing the Down button or pressing E-Stop cuts power to the solenoid — the gravity weight immediately engages the brake and locks drum rotation.
A drum rotation speed sensor signals the drive to stop and triggers the emergency brake automatically if overspeed is detected — no operator action required.
Loss of power instantly de-energizes the brake solenoid — the brake engages automatically. Manual brake release allows a controlled descent via the centrifugal brake.
If the emergency brake solenoid fails, the device can still lift — the brake freewheels in lifting mode without requiring the solenoid, and the device remains operational.
Operation
End of Travel & Homing Procedure
Intelligent position tracking ensures minimum rope turns are always maintained on the drum.
- Device starts at slow speed until homing is complete
- Operator lifts hook to within inches of the head pulley
- Press Home button (underside of control enclosure) to set position
- Normal speed enabled after homing — position tracked automatically
- E-Stop does not lose the Home position
- If power is cut with stirrup in Down position, Home position is lost
- Alternately press Up and Home buttons repeatedly to gradually lift stirrup
- Once stirrup is near the head pulley, press Home to restore position tracking
Triple-Redundant Braking
Three fully independent systems. Any one alone can hold the full rated load.
Motor Torque Control
The servo motor actively governs descent speed using regenerative torque. Precise, smooth, electronically controlled.
High-Ratio Worm Gear
Inherently self-locking geometry — the load cannot backdrive the motor. Mechanically prevents free-fall with zero power.
Emergency Gravity Brake
A normally-engaged fail-safe brake held open electromagnetically. Any power loss closes it instantly via gravity.
Analytics & Anomaly Detection
Every operation is monitored in real time. The onboard system logs telemetry, detects anomalies, and surfaces alerts before issues become failures.
- Real-time load monitoring
- Speed and encoder telemetry
- Brake engagement status
- Anomaly detection with alerts
- Operational data logging & reporting
Now Certified for Human Lifting
TIDYNE has received full personnel-transfer certification — enabling crew evacuation, pilot boarding, and man-riding operations. The same device handles cargo and people.
Roadmap
Solar Power and Wind Power (In Development)
A renewable-powered variant with regenerative braking is in development — using solar power and wind power as charging sources. Enables fully off-grid operation and energy recovery on every descent cycle.
Safety Architecture
Unified Safety Architecture
Robust hardware combined with an integrated central computing system — engineered for fail-safe operation in the harshest marine environments.
Mechanical & Operational Features
Controlled Descent & Lifting
Regulated lowering and upward mobility for personnel or equipment under varying load conditions.
Triple Independent Braking System
An integrated, redundant braking configuration designed for maximum load stability and fail-safe operation under all conditions.
Marine-Grade Edge Computing
Housed in a durable, marine-grade enclosure with a dedicated lithium battery backup — fully operational and data-active even during a total ship power failure.
Integrated Software & Intelligent Monitoring
Real-Time Operational Analytics
Monitors winch velocity and direction in real-time, instantly identifying operational anomalies or deviations from safety parameters.
Autonomous Activity Logging & Fleet Analytics
Every deployment is automatically logged to a secure cloud database — capturing usage patterns, environmental conditions, and motor performance for a transparent audit trail.
Predictive Maintenance Intelligence
Analyzes telemetry and historical data to provide predictive insights into mechanical wear — enabling condition-based maintenance that prevents failures and minimizes vessel downtime.
Operational Applications
TIDYNE is designed for high-stakes maritime environments requiring certified personnel and cargo transfer.