Sperry Introduces New Ship Control System —Literature Available

The Sperry division of Sperry Corporation, Great Neck, N.Y., has introduced a unique, all-digital ship control system called the SRP-2000.

John V. Walsh, vice president and general manager of the division's M a r i n e S y s t e m s Unit, stated the SRP-2000 is more than an autopilot, ". . . providing information on the entire navigation and steering system f r om a single console as well as a wealth of other ship information when connected to appropriate sensors." The SRP-2000 system uses a 12-inch cathode ray tube f o r display of all primary ship control information, with a simulated tape heading repeater always displayed.

On demand, the helmsman may call up rate-of-turn scale, rudder angle scale, and both ship operating information and system operating instructions.

Information is stored, monitored, and displayed by four microprocessors within the console.

The SRP-2000 can also connect to navigation sensors, and display navigation information being received by either Loran or satellite navigation systems. Navigation information can also be inserted into the system manually.

If desired, way points can be inserted into the SRP-2000 and the system will automatically determine the proper course and steer to it.

Sperry's new adaptive steering system, available as an option with current Sperry autopilots, is incorporated as standard equipment in the SRP-2000. This system has demonstrated savings of up to 3 percent in fuel use for some ships.

The SRP-2000 meets all international standards f o r safety, including complete dual hand-electric steering controls, emergency steering controls which bypass the system electronics, and full alarm panel at the operating station.

The alarm panel can also provide more precise details on failures in the steering system, displaying those details on the CRT automatically.

"We have embodied a number of features into the SRP-2000 to provide ease of installation and operation," said Henry Johnston, marketing manager for the system.

"First, the system uses relatively low-voltage for steering control, eliminating the need for large power cables on the bridge.

The main power cables are connected to rudder control units aft. Also, we have used a very precise helm construction, so that one complete revolution of the wheel will be equal to a 20-degree rudder movement. The SRP-2000 also has complete operating instruction stored in its memory, so a helmsman can simply call up on the CRT any needed instructions." The SRP-2000 can be interfaced with up to three remote steering control units, and additional CRT displays can be slaved to the main SRP-2000 CRT.

For literature containing complete information on the SRP- 2000,

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 57, Dec 1981

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Maritime Reporter

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