A Statistical investigation of the Automatic Pilot and Speed in log

Abstract

To determine the accuracy and stability of steering by automatic pilot, the author compared the course setting on the auto. pilot and the actual course as recorded by the course recorder. In connection with the distribution of log speed, he investigated three steamers which operate in the Tsugaru Straits and three training ships of Hokkaido University. The investigations were made when the weather and sea conditions were calm, and also when the two training ships were being affected by the wind and waves. To sum up the results, the course set by the auto. pilot contained about 1 degree (s.d) of random error, and the constant error varied according to the side (port or staboard) affected by the wind and waves. The random error of tke log speed was found to be 2〜4 per cent (s.d) when they sailed at the standard speed.