Raytheon Anschütz has launched a new autopilot, the NautoPilot 5000NX, incorporating algorithms for improved steering performance and fuel-saving capabilities.
“Years of experience in the field has shown that autopilots can also help save significantly on fuel,” said Olav Denker, product manager for autopilots and steering control systems at Raytheon Anschütz.
“We designed numerous features for our NautoPilot 5000NX that help reduce fuel consumption alone or in combination.”
All navigational information is displayed on a 7-inch graphical touchscreen, with heading, course and track control steering modes available for crews as required.
The system features an Economy Mode that reduces rudder activity, with the autopilot actively reacting to the actual yawing movements of the vessel, depending on load and sea conditions. Symmetrical movements, as well as movements that cannot be corrected due to the inertial behaviour of the ship, are filtered out and not corrected by the autopilot.
A Course Control mode steers the vessel on a course-over-ground line and automatically compensates for drift deviations, minimising travel distance and using smaller rudder angles to reduce speed loss compared to manual operation, while a Toe Angle function is available to reduce fuel usage for vessels with dual rudders by offsetting the rudders from each other.
