DCNS
Control system design for Barracuda-class submarine propulsion systems
Your challenge :
The Barracuda is a nuclear-powered attack submarine that will undergo at-sea tests in 2015. Increasingly, a key component of new submarine projects is the control system for the nuclear propulsion system, which comprises all of onboard automation and IT systems that make the submarine easier to operate. For this first-of-class next-generation vessel, French naval defence company DCNS had to develop the detailed design for the propulsion system’s operating system to a very tight schedule, since land-based testing is scheduled for mid-2012. This was particularly challenging in that the nuclear propulsion system is an innovative hybrid combining electric and turbo-mechanical propulsion.
Our added value :
As part of this project, overseen and conducted by DCNS, the Assystem team – which at times comprised as many as nine members – focused on specifying the automated functions and mimic diagrams, defining the control panels, and designing the electrical system and software architecture. Our value added reflected our 15 years of working with DCNS, during which we have developed a shared language and forged a trust-based relationship. We were able to deliver highly appreciated benefits, in particular by developing IT applications to retrieve and process data more easily, thereby simplifying and shortening certain design tasks.