Sitex SP38 Autopilot, Installation And Operation Manual

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How Autopilots Work
Sitex SP38 Installation and Operation
Document PN 29010101 V2r0
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If the boat isn’t coming back on-course very quickly, the SPU’s algorithms
will not back the rudder off right away, and might even move the rudder a
bit farther to Starboard for a while.
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On the other hand, if the boat is coming back too quickly, the rudder will be
moved quickly back to dead-ahead – or maybe even a bit to Port for a few
seconds.
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Eventually, the actual Heading will match the desired Heading.
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If-and-when the boat falls off-course again, the same sequence will be repeated.
In summary, this is all very similar to steering the vessel manually, it’s just happening multiple
times per second, much more precisely and rapidly than a human could – and without the lapse
in focus sometimes attributed to a human operator.