Upgrading the Naval Architecture Laboratory at the Portuguese Naval Academy

The article describes the modernization of a laboratory to teach Naval Architecture classes at the Portuguese Naval Academy. The laboratory consists of a towing water tank where tests are conducted to study the hydrodynamics of ship hulls built to scale. The paper focuses on the instrumentation and automation of the tank, from the design phase to the validation phase, including the practical implementation. Experimental evidence is presented showing that the proposed solution works and is an asset for students and researchers. This work offers valuable guidance for those planning to construct a new tank or upgrade an existing one.