Beacon Company is considering automating its production facility. The initial investment in automation would be $$9\mathrm{.}00$ million, and the equipment has a useful life of $7$ years with a residual value of $$1,090,000.$ The company will use straight$-$line depreciation. Beacon could expect a production increase of $31,000$ units per year and a reduction of $20$ percent in the labor cost per unit.

Production and sales volume Current $($no automation$)74,000$ units Proposed $($automation$)105,000$ units

Per Unit Total Per Unit Total

Sales revenue $ $95$ $ $?$question mark $ $95$ $ $?$question mark

Variable costs

Direct materials $ $19$ $ $19$

Direct labor $15?$question mark

Variable manufacturing overhead $1010$

Total variable manufacturing costs $44?$question mark

Contribution margin $ $51?$question mark $ $54?$question mark

Fixed manufacturing costs $1,140,0002,180,000$

Net operating income $?$question mark $?$question mark

Required:

$3.$ Determine the project's payback period.

Note: Round your answer to $2$ decimal places.