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12 st / November 2016 www.sea-technology.com and 12 m wide, the tank is used to test ship models up to 10 m long and produces waves up to 1 m high. The tank's carriage is a precision-controlled mobile laboratory that is used to fol- low self-propelled, free-running models or tow rigidly connected models at a maximum speed of 10 m/s (or 36 km/h or 19 kt.). By testing the model in NRC's towing tank, the teams were able to evaluate at model scale the baseline performance of the new autopilot software. The results obtained from this testing demonstrated that the autopilot meets the perfor- mance criteria within the estab- lished tolerances. "I was pleased with the results and the partnership that helped validate the new technology," said Patrick Garvis, program manager for L-3 MAPPS. "It was definitely a success- ful partnership, as it allowed us to prove our autopilot algorithm with a scaled model of the submarine. From L-3's perspective, the NRC facility in Newfoundland and Labrador con- tains impressive equipment, is staffed with highly competent and courteous people, and most of all was able to build and commission a fully func- tional submarine model in a relatively short time." Project Milestones Since 2015, the successful collabo- ration between the four organizations has led to the following milestones: completion of the factory acceptance test for the first ship set in Montreal; completion of the factory acceptance test for the onboard trainer that simu- lates the autopilot system on a laptop; completion of the factory acceptance test for the maintenance trainer, a full- size training console that allows Navy staff to train the maintainers and the operators on the functionality and operation of the system; completion of the factory acceptance test for the submarine control trainer; and com- pletion of initial cadre training for the autopilot system for Navy staff and Fleet Maintenance Facility personnel on autopilot operations and mainte- nance. System Installation The first installation of the new au- topilot system is planned for winter 2017. Once installed, to ensure the validity of the test data, they must be collected from the same submarine. The new system can then be further optimized using the established per- formance baseline data. "The team is still working hard and anticipating the next steps for the proj- ect," said Garvis. "The plan is to install the system on HMCS Windsor in De- cember this year. L-3 is looking for- ward to proving the system on the first submarine, paving the way to com- plete the remainder of the fleet." Post-installation system testing and data collection are scheduled to occur in the spring of 2017. The system will be fully tested prior to proceeding to sea with a harbor acceptance trial and The Victoria-class autopilot system maintenance trainer, designed to serve additionally as an operator part task trainer. From left to right: Dr. Xavier Cyril, director of prod- uct engineering and services, L-3 MAPPS; Commander Charles Macdonald, director of Naval Platform Systems 4-3, Department of National Defence; Dr. François Bélanger, Victoria-class autopilot system project engineer, L-3 MAPPS; and Shankar Udupa, vice president of operations, L-3 MAPPS.