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AlphaPilot

Simple, Scalable & Smart Steering

Features

Our new adaptive autopilot features a 5-inch touch display with the hardware and software based on our uniform product philosophy, creating a consistent bridge and operational approach. The advanced track steering technology contributes to safe and efficient operation, defined by its simplicity in usage.



Thanks to our experience and feedback of our customers and engineers, we designed our new AlphaPilot as a modular system with standard components that makes it easy to install, commission and to maintain. The new AlphaPilot had to be deployable as a small system as heading control system up to an advanced and complex autopilot system with multiple positions and to control main steering. The result is a system consists of following building blocks:

  • AlphaPilot control panel
  • MCU box (Main Control Unit)
  • MCU MS box (Main Control Unit Main Steering)
  • Mode switches, tillers, hand wheels and rudder feedback units
With only these components, one is able to design a system for the demands of the customers.

Fully self-adjusting

The AlphaPilot is a modular, type approved heading control system designed to fit vessels of any size, including high speed crafts. This modern and technologically advanced control unit is intended to reduce the operator’s workload, increase the vessel motion efficiency and improve operational safety. The AlphaPilot is easy to install and has a fully self-adjusting ‘auto-tune’ algorithm which automatically estimates ships’ dynamics and allows it to easily adapt control settings, rudder gain and counter rudder as required to continually provide the best possible steering performance.



Tillers & Switches

The tillers are required for steering and switches for selecting steering modes. As an additional safety feature, the tiller in command will lit. All tillers and switches have dimmer and mute buttons. The modules have an aluminum base fitted with a dedicated PCB and a splash-proof film coating on the front. The modules are connected via CAN bus for communicating with the main control unit.



Modes of operation

The AlphaPilot is easy to operate via an intuitive 5-inch color touchscreen display which will give the operator a clear presentation of information. The user-friendly menu and parameters can be accessed and changed by using the touch screen, rotary button or, in case of the AlphaTrackPilot, multi-functional joystick.



Mode

Explanation

Standby

AlphaPilot is in stand-by or manual mode and does not control steering or rudders as control is overridden

Auto

Auto mode or automatic heading control activates the autopilot and steers the vessel to the reference course. When wind/current will push the vessel off course, the AlphaPilot will counteract.

Dodge

The dodge mode is a short-term switchover from auto mode to the manual rudder control.

Override

The overide mode will give intentional fast change-over from automatic to temporary manual FU steering from external FU wheel or FU Tiller.

CTS Pilot

Course to steer or CTS mode is an estimated course that a vessel should steer in order to arrive at a waypoint or bearing and stay on ground track.

ROT mode

In this mode the AlphaPilot is switched over to manual ROT (rate-of-turn) steering via a knob on the control panel or activated on an external FU/ROT tiller. This mode is also known as ‘River mode’.

Track

Track control mode (also referred to as “track steering”), combines an ECDIS with the autopilot. The navigator can program a voyage plan into the ECDIS that contains one or more tracks.

Auto low speed heading control

The AlphaPilot can operate in automatic low speed heading control mode, using one or two tunnel thrusters in “AUTO” control mode.

Control panel

The AlphaPilot control panel is intended to control and for monitoring of operation, setting of required ships’ heading or rudder angle, selection of operating modes. The control panel is equipped with a high resolution color display, displaying information such as heading, current setting, mode and alarms. The operator can use touch screen and rotating knob to set the necessary parameters. All menus and functions are the same for every language. Other available control panels are the AlphaTrackPilot MFM and the AlphaPilot MFS.

Control panels
3104.0650 Alphapilot MFM BK
3104.0694 AlphaTrackPilot MFM BK
3104.0720 AlphaPilot MFS BK

MCU Box

The control panel is connected to the Main Control Unit box. This box is the central aggregation unit to connect all navigational sensors but also needed for connection to the steering system or to the steering gear. These control boxes offer multiple terminals to connect all peripherals and will become the heart of the steering system on board of the vessel. This is also the number one benefit of this system, no additional junction boxes or steering amplifiers are needed for installation of the AlphaPilot system. Depending on system needs, the following is available:

  • MCU box (Main Control Unit)
  • MCU MS box (Main Control Unit Main Steering)



Besides size, the main difference between a MCU box and the MCU MS box is that the MCU box will be connected to a steering system while the MCU MS box is directly connected to the steering gear.

Stearing gear interfaces

The AlphaPilot MCU box and the MCU MS box is provided with multiple terminals to connect to different steering gear manufacturers. Also, the MCU boxes are provided with multiple terminals to connect all navigational sensors (GPS, gyrocompass, log, VDR, ECDIS/ECS, magnetic compass). The sensor data, among others, speed, heading and course will be used by the AlphaPilot to dynamically calculate and adjust the steering.

Rudder feedback units

The rudder feedback units consist of aluminum housing and are available as medium or heavy-duty versions. The output can be connected to the analog module or directly to the MCU box. The rudder feedback units contain a potentiometer, which is proportional to the rudder angle. Next to this, the heavy-duty version contains additional limit switches.

The rudder feedback units can be mechanically coupled to the rudder post by chain or a transmission link. The continuously transmitted accurate rudder angle data will be received by the analog interface. It converts the analog signal to a digital Modbus and IEC61162-1 signal and can be transmitted to any AlphaLine Repeater display capable of displaying graphical rudder information.



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