Blind Pilotage Trainer

Last Updated on Friday, 11 June 2010 12:45 Written by Alison Little Wednesday, 24 March 2010 11:09

H Scientific developed and installed the Blind Pilotage Training Facility at the Submarine Training School, HMS Dolphin, Plymouth. The Blind Pilotage system tests the ability of students to navigate only using bridge instruments with no external or plan view showing the vessel position. This is essential in training submariners. The instruments include radar displays, speed, heading, depth, and position on electronic chart. The instructors console may be remotely sited, and equipped with CCTV and audio monitoring as well as indicators showing the state of the bridge instruments. The instructors console provides a facility for setting up and interactively controlling the training environment including other ships, sea state, and equipment malfunctions.

H Scientific formed a strategic alliance with Simutech Electronics Ltd to combine the dynamic ship simulation with Simutech's high quality radar stimulators and simulators to create a highly realistic blind pilotage training environment. Simutech Electronics supply PC-based systems which recreate the radar signals normally be obtained from the radar antenna, and these are connected directly to a real radar console. Using this approach, the student is presented with real equipment and the 'look and feel' of the ship system is guaranteed. Alternatively, Simutech can supply a complete radar simulator on a PC. Ship Sim communicates with the radar simulators, sending information about the own-ship position and speed as well as roll, pitch and heading and rate of turn. Target vessels and environmental information is also sent, allowing the radar to maintain a picture of the as would be seen in the real world. Other instruments such as heading, speed, position repeaters are also provided. These are typically provided using real marine displays or by means of additional PC monitors. Electronic charting is also available, both for the students and for the instructor. In this facility, Ship Sim may be controlled by mouse clicks and PC keyboard, or optionally by means of a hardware console with levers and helm. An autopilot is included as standard, and the instructor is able to manipulate the exercise by injecting target vessels and challenge the students with engine or instrument failures.