Robertson Introduces New Small Commercial Autopilot

Robertson has announced a new addition to its microprocessor controlled autopilot family—the AP40.

This pilot offers extremely simple, yet highly accurate, steering control for most commercial vessels and large yachts. Robertson reports the AP40 design eliminates the need to individually set controls for rudder, counter rudder, etc., which can be a complex operation depending on vessel characteristics. Instead, a single pushbutton control selects one of the nine preprogrammed steering models which most accurately matches a particular vessel's characteristics.

The AP40 can additionally accept up to three "personalized" programs set up during sea trials to meet a vessel's special needs. The AP40 also features Robertson's pre dictive rudder control system, originally introduced with the top of the line AP9, which provides superior steering accuracy by "learning" actual vessel rudder response to steering commands, thereby virtually eliminating rudder overshoot. As with Robertson's popular AP100DL and AP9 autopilots, the AP40 includes Loran C interface as a standard feature.

The AP40, like all the new Robertson pilots, displays pertinent data on two large LCD's, one giving system status information, the other showing a digital course readout.

The AP40 operates with virtually any magnetic or fluxgate compass and has built-in offcourse alarm and rate-of-turn control. It is ideal for both new vessel installations and retrofits. Options include remote controls, watch alarm and rudder angle indicators.

For a full color brochure on the new Robertson AP40, Circle 11 on Reader Service Card

Other stories from April 1985 issue

Content

Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.