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Library› Navigation› Autopilot & Bridge Systems› Autopilot System
Autopilot & Bridge Systems

Autopilot System

An autopilot drives the steering gear from a heading or track error signal supplied by the gyrocompass, and on track control systems by the ECDIS route, holding a ship on course without a helmsman; it does not replace the lookout duty required whenever collision risk exists.

297models 24manufacturers
Models

Models in this type.

The 100 models with the most complete data of 297 in Autopilot System. Every row links to full specifications, documents and service notes.

Raytheon AnschützNP2025 PID control Raytheon AnschützNP3010 Adaptive Raytheon AnschützNP5010 PilotStar Adaptive control FurunoFAP-2000 FurunoBR-500 Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System FurunoMU-152 15-inch Marine Monitor FurunoMU-190 19-inch Marine Monitor FurunoMU-192 19-inch Marine Monitor FurunoNAVpilot-1000 Marine Autopilot FurunoNAVpilot-300 Marine Autopilot FurunoNAVpilot-711C Marine Autopilot FurunoVOYAGER Integrated Navigation System FurunoNAVpilot 300 FurunoNAVpilot 500 FurunoNAVpilot 511 FurunoNAVpilot 700 FurunoNAVpilot 711C FurunoNAVpilot 711C Bulk Carrier Cape FurunoNAVpilot 711C Bulk Carrier Panamax FurunoNAVpilot 711C Container 14000TEU FurunoNAVpilot 711C Container 3000TEU FurunoNAVpilot 711C Container 8000TEU FurunoNAVpilot 711C Fishing Seiner FurunoNAVpilot 711C Fishing Trawler FurunoNAVpilot 711C General Cargo FurunoNAVpilot 711C Navy Frigate FurunoNAVpilot 711C Navy Patrol FurunoNAVpilot 711C Offshore AHTS FurunoNAVpilot 711C Offshore PSV FurunoNAVpilot 711C Passenger Cruise FurunoNAVpilot 711C Passenger Ferry FurunoNAVpilot 711C RoRo/PCC FurunoNAVpilot 711C Tanker Aframax FurunoNAVpilot 711C Tanker Suezmax FurunoNAVpilot 711C Tanker VLCC FurunoNAVpilot 711C Tug Harbor FurunoNAVpilot 711C Tug Ocean FurunoNAVpilot 711C Yacht 30m FurunoNAVpilot 711C Yacht 60m Raytheon AnschützNautoGuide Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 2000 Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 3000 Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Bulk Carrier Cape Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Bulk Carrier Panamax Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Container 14000TEU Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Container 3000TEU Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Container 8000TEU Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Fishing Seiner Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Fishing Trawler Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 General Cargo Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Large Vessel Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Medium Vessel Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Navy Frigate Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Navy Patrol Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Offshore AHTS Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Offshore PSV Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Passenger Cruise Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Passenger Ferry Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 RoRo/PCC Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Small Vessel Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Tanker Aframax Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Tanker Suezmax Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Tanker VLCC Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Tug Harbor Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Tug Ocean Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 VLCC Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Yacht 30m Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000 Yacht 60m Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5000X Raytheon AnschützNautoPilot 5100 Sperry MarineNAVIGAT 3100 Adaptive Tokyo KeikiPR-6000 PID control Tokyo KeikiPR-8000 Neural network adaptive Sperry MarineNAVIPILOT Sperry MarineNaviPilot 3000 Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4000 Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Bulk Carrier Cape Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Bulk Carrier Panamax Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Container 14000TEU Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Container 3000TEU Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Container 8000TEU Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Fishing Seiner Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Fishing Trawler Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 General Cargo Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Large Vessel Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Medium Vessel Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Navy Frigate Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Navy Patrol Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Offshore AHTS Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Offshore PSV Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Passenger Cruise Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Passenger Ferry Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 RoRo/PCC Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Small Vessel Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Tanker Aframax Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Tanker Suezmax Sperry MarineNaviPilot 4500 Tanker VLCC
All 297 models
By manufacturer

Manufacturers.

All 24 manufacturers with models of Autopilot System. Every name opens a search across the full library.

Related types

Also in Autopilot & Bridge Systems.

The other equipment types in this category.

AutopilotAutopilot/BNWASBNWAS (Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm)Conning Display / IBSHeading Control SystemVDR / S-VDR (Voyage Data Recorder)
Knowledge

What to check on a Autopilot System.

An autopilot is a closed-loop control system: it compares the ship's actual heading against a set heading, or the ship's position against a planned track on a track control system, and sends a correcting order to the steering gear. This is different from manual steering, where a helmsman applies rudder directly, and from a simple gyro repeater, which only displays heading without acting on it. A basic heading autopilot corrects drift and yaw; a track control system additionally corrects cross-track error against a route loaded from the ECDIS.

What sets an autopilot apart

An autopilot is a closed-loop control system: it compares the ship's actual heading against a set heading, or the ship's position against a planned track on a track control system, and sends a correcting order to the steering gear. This is different from manual steering, where a helmsman applies rudder directly, and from a simple gyro repeater, which only displays heading without acting on it. A basic heading autopilot corrects drift and yaw; a track control system additionally corrects cross-track error against a route loaded from the ECDIS.

Autopilot system block diagram
Block diagram of a marine autopilot showing the gyrocompass heading input to the course computer, its output to the steering gear and rudder, the rudder angle feedback signal, and the control panel at the helm.

Main components

Control unit and gain settings

The control unit compares heading error and rate of turn against operator-set gain, counter-rudder and weather adjustments. Poorly tuned gain either lets the ship wander in a seaway or hunts constantly, both of which waste rudder movement and fuel.

Sensors

Heading comes from the gyrocompass, rate of turn from a dedicated sensor or derived from heading change, and on track control systems, position from the GNSS receiver feeding the ECDIS. A degraded or failed gyro is the single most common cause of an autopilot fault, since the system has no independent way to know it is being fed bad heading data.

Interface to the steering gear

Correcting signals pass to the steering gear's follow-up or non-follow-up control circuit, ultimately moving the same rudder actuator used in manual and emergency steering.

Selection and sizing

Selection depends on the vessel's steering gear interface, whether track control is required for the trade (needed for some restricted or ECA passage planning), redundancy expected by the bridge procedures, and integration with the existing gyrocompass and ECDIS suppliers, since cross-manufacturer integration is not always straightforward.

Regulations and class requirements

SOLAS Chapter V sets carriage and performance requirements for heading and track control systems, including a requirement that steering can be reverted to manual control within a defined time. Track control systems used to satisfy watchkeeping arrangements must meet IMO performance standards for automatic steering, and the officer of the watch remains responsible for monitoring the vessel's progress and lookout at all times regardless of autopilot mode, a duty set out under the STCW Code.

Typical faults

  • Gyrocompass drift feeding false heading — ship steers a course that is steadily off the intended track without an alarm
  • Gain set too aggressive for sea state — constant rudder hunting increases wear on the steering gear and fuel burn
  • Loss of GNSS signal on a track control system — reversion to heading mode or an alarm, depending on the system's fallback logic
  • Sticking changeover switch between manual and auto — delay reverting to manual steering when needed quickly
  • Software or interface fault after a gyrocompass or ECDIS upgrade — track control data not accepted or misread

What to look for in a supplier

  • Confirmed interface compatibility with the vessel's existing gyrocompass, GNSS and ECDIS
  • Type approval covering both heading control and, if required, track control performance standards
  • Clear changeover procedure and alarm behaviour on sensor loss
  • Training or documentation for gain tuning appropriate to the vessel's typical sea states
  • Service support reachable for software updates tied to chart or ECDIS system changes

Re-check gain settings after any change in loading condition or draft, not just after rough weather; a lightly laden ship with a shallow draft can hunt on settings that were fine fully loaded.

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