Submarine platform automation enabler of an optimized crew concept - PDF document

UDT 2020 UDT Extended Abstract Template Presentation/Panel Submarine platform automation – enabler of an optimized crew concept H. Wehner 1 , Dr. M. Mohr 2 1 Head of Product Architecture Submarines, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Kiel, Germany 2 Produkt architect submarines, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Kiel, Germany Abstract — Automation and mechanization are implemented in submarines in many ways and relieve its crew from tediously monotonous and maybe dangerous work. It leads to a reduced workload of the crew as well as to permanently, evenly, and consistently performed tasks without interruption and with more precision than a human being may be capable of. Automation also provides the possibility to arrange unmanned rooms containing automated equipment only. Side effects include that automation brings additional equipment on board that needs to be operated and maintained by the crew. Since the additional automation equipment is of a different style than the automated systems – particularly it contains more electronics and less mechanics – the operators need a different kind of education and training, which shows the strong dependencies between automation and crew qualification. Today‘s philosophy of platform automation is based on an operating degradation that allows the crew to operate the systems manually in case that the automation fails. This consequently prohibits to reduce the crew size substantially, since everybody may be needed. For the combat systems, the evolution from human observation and evaluation towards electronically supported sensing and data assessment is already well advanced. However, it is still an aim to provide the operators with information that is focused on the decisions that need to be made. This presentation discusses motivation, challenges, and thyssenkrupp Marine Systems‘ approach to automation. It includes the respective question about how to achieve a sufficiently trusted reliability of automation, thus allowing to remove manual operation possibilities with its consequences on the crew concept. The answers to this question and relevant automation solutions are particularly essential on the way to lean manning and unmanned submarines. term “ automation ” will be normally used also in a 1 Introduction inconsistent way: We are facing an operation level what A submarine is a very complex platform system with a we colloquially also classify as automation: Remote large number of integrated subsystems: Navigation, depth control which we use e.g. for achieving ergonomic goals control, AIP control, diesel control, power generation and or avoiding crew in noisy or hazardous zones. distribution, etc. A tremendous amount of information has In the context of automation / crew concepts we would to be processed for control in real time. Current define the following three levels of operation: submarines use a high degree of automation systems on Table 2. Definition of submarine operation levels. several system levels to relieve its crew from tediously monotonous and maybe dangerous work. Felstead [1] Operation level Name approached the topic of automation with respect to crew size on UDT2019 mainly from crew concept perspective. 0 Local control He describes requirements and thoughts to automated 1 Remote control systems on an abstracted level: Trust, Reliability and SubSystem Automation 2 Experience are amongst others factors for implementing guided by operators highly automated systems with the aim to reduce crew The automation pyramid is a common visualization of size. automated systems in industry. Its layers describe different This paper focusses more on a technical view on the process level of automation processes but could also be platform automation system of submarines and its defined to the automation structure of submarines as subsystems. follows (Fig. 1). The lower layers describe the technical For a common understanding the term “automation” levels from automated systems like sensors/actors (lowest will be defined from submarines perspective, taking level), process control level (2 nd level, submarine automotive and industrial standards into consideration. subsystems), Advance Control level (3 rd level, submarine Section 3 shows the general automation architecture of platform management system, PMS). Level 4 is the ship Thyssenkrupp marine systems’ submarines and gives information system, SIS where status information of the some examples of automated systems and how they are whole submarine including combat system, integrated. communication & navigation system will be displayed. The 5 th layer describes the non-technical crew managing 2 Automation – definition & goals Cambridge dictionary (dictionary.cambridge.org) defines automation as “use of machines and computers that can operate without needing human control”. In seafaring the

UDT 2020 Presentation/Panel UDT Extended Abstract Template and strategic decision leve l of the submarine’s commander 3 Solutions and officers. This section describes the general automation architecture and shows examples how it is implemented in thyssenkrupp Marine System submarines. 3.1 Control architecture Figure 1 shows the architecture of the Thyssenkrupp MS submarine automation systems. Main characteristics are: - Intelligence/subsystem control functionalities are located (physically and function-wise) as close as Fig. 1. Layers of the automation pyramid possible to the individual systems - High degree of automation where applicable As a short summary: automation supports the submarine - Subsystems could be operated independently and its crew in a wide range: from pure visualization to from platform management system remote control of systems up to autonomous closed loop - Sensor and Actor information will be collected control of complex subsystems. from the PMS via o hard wire connection o Bus-connection 2.1 Goals & opportunities o Connection via subsystem Submarines with automated systems give multiple values - Some of the subsystem functionality/control is to the customer: directly implemented in the PMS e.g. bilge  Increasing of operational reliability, e.g.: monitoring o Software based interlocking of systems / components during operation mode transition sequences.  Optimization of operation modes, e.g. o Subsystems will get information about submarine operating modes (like silent mode) and will act accordingly.  Optimize overall costs o Operating expense for the crew versus investment & operating cost of automated systems. o Fig. 2. Thyssenkrupp MS submarine platform automation Automation degree according to system architecture – automation where it gives benefit. architecture (following BV3700-1 [2]) .  Fulfilment of customer’s crew-requirements, e.g. o The overall automation System, the PMS performs Compensate lack of personnel using higher degree different tasks: of automation. o - Organizes the hierarchy the control levels (System, Enable flexible use of crews in different subsystem) submarines types. o Fulfilment of customer’s training concept – higher - Organizes the hierarchy of operation modes (local operation, remote control, subsystem automation) degree of automation require additional more - Distribution of information within the subsystems intensive trainings. - Controls (open loop/closed loop) on system level In addition automated systems in submarines enables: - controls submarine operation states  safe working environment – rooms with bad - controls transition phases switching between environmental conditions can be unmanned with high operation states degree of automation or non-ergonomic tasks can be - shows states, warnings, alarms of the platform taken from the crew system.  supports the crew during different stress situations by means of e.g. automatic running tasks sequences or 3.2 Redundancy concepts / modularity alarm prioritization  automated fast and safe detection of deviations from Customer-specific technical solutions depend on customer normal conditions (monitoring and alarm experience and resulting customer requirements. Specific functionality) automation solutions depend on technical possibilities and user’s experiences . High degree of automation gives the opportunity of system A redundancy and modular concept of automation optimization using data from field experience. It is systems cannot be formed without taking the systems comprehensible to submarine industry that their customers concept itself into consideration. The e.g. specific system’s are quite shy sharing this kind of information with the industry.