Simrad AP44 Quick Manual page 41

• Layline steering: When enabled the Cross Track Error (XTE) from
the navigator will keep the boat on the track line. If the XTE from
the navigator exceeds 0.15 Nm, the autopilot will calculate the
layline and track towards the waypoint.
Automatic steering (AC12N/AC42N)
This option allows for manually changing parameters that were set
during the commissioning of the autopilot computer. For more
details of the settings, refer to the separate documentation for the
autopilot computer.
• Transition speed: This is the speed at which the autopilot will
automatically change the steering parameter set from HI to LO
parameters, or vice versa. On power boats it is recommended to
set the Transition speed to a speed that represents the speed
where the hull begins to plane or the speed where you change
from slow to cruising speed
On sailboats the Transition speed should be set to 3-4 knots to
give the best response in a tack
• High/Low
- Rudder gain: This parameter determines the ratio between
commanded rudder and the heading error. The higher rudder
value the more rudder is applied. If the value is too small it will
take a long time to compensate for a heading error, and the
autopilot will fail to keep a steady course. If the value is set too
high the overshoot will increase and the steering will be
unstable.
- Counter rudder: Relation between change in heading error and
applied rudder. Higher counter rudder will reduce applied
rudder faster when approaching the set heading
- Auto trim: Controls how aggressively the autopilot will apply
rudder to compensate for a constant heading offset, e.g. when
external forces such as wind or current affects the heading.
Lower autotrim will give faster elimination of a constant
heading offset
- Rate limit: The rate the vessel is turning in degrees per minute
• Minimum rudder: Some boats may have a tendency of not
responding to small rudder commands around the course
keeping position because of a small rudder, a rudder deadband,
Software setup| AP44 Operator Manual
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