Operating manual ALPHASEAPILOT MFC Issue 1.1 Page 67 of 84
ALPHASEAPILOT MFC
2.38 The Track Function
The Autopilot may be operated in “TRACK” mode when it will steer the vessel along a pre-
planned track or multiple tracks in response to “Heading to Steer” data received from a
proprietary Track Control System.
NB. The ALPHASEAPILOT MFC is a “Wheelmarked” Autopilot (IMO A342(ix) as
amended by MSC 64/67 Annex 3) in addition to HSC Certification (ISO 16329) with an
approved Track steering facility provided the latter is used in conjunction with a Type
Approved Track Control System compliant with IEC 60625.
When the appropriate track and waypoint coordinates have been entered into a proprietary
Track Control System, resultant Track data is received by the Autopilot system via the Track
data input terminals in IEC 61162 / 1 or IEC 61162 / 2 or NMEA 0183 serial data formats.
The sentence types accepted by the Autopilot system and their order of priority are (i) $ XX
HTC, (ii) $ XX APB, (iii) $ XX HSC.
“Heading to Steer” data is in each sentence type and is continuously “read” by the Autopilot
system to provide automatic heading changes to next waypoint or to perform complex
manoeuvres based on multiple waypoint entries.
Other commands may also be present in the Track data sentence type received by the
Autopilot which will respond accordingly to alter various of its Menu set steering parameters
during Track Mode as follows: -
a) Rudder Limit.
b) Rate of Turn.
c) Off Heading Limit.
d) Heading Source in use.
NB. Safeguards are an inherent feature of the Autopilot software to ensure safe track steering
operation.
e) The Autopilot will prevent the Track Control System from carrying out a Rate of
Turn which exceeds the Autopilots internal maximum set limit. (section 2.33)
f) If no rudder limit value is specified by the Track Control System the Autopilot will
use its own (LIMITS Menu set) value.
Multiple Straight
and curved Tracks
(If supported by
Track Control
System)
Multiple Straight
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