Heading Rate Stabilizer; Other Compasses; Figure 11 - Heading Rate Stabilizer - ComNav Commander P2 Installation & Operation Manual

ComNav Commander P2 Installation & Operation

Heading Rate Stabilizer

PN 20320005
Perhaps the single greatest factor affecting Autopilot performance is the quality of the
compass heading information it receives. Compass error due to pitch and roll, high turn rates
and high-speed turns are common to both fluxgate and magnetic compasses.
Northerly turning error is another phenomenon that affects both types of compasses,
particularly at higher latitudes, due to an increase in the earth's vertical magnetic field
component.
The sideways acceleration of a vessel in a high speed turn will also affect the accuracy of
compasses.
ComNav's Heading Rate Stabilizer minimizes the effect of these factors.
Figure 11 – Heading Rate Stabilizer
The Heading Rate Stabilizer measures the horizontal component of the rate of change in the
vessel's heading, and adjusts the compass reading to minimize the effects of pitch and roll,
fast turn rates and northerly turning error.
The heading output provided to the Autopilot is dramatically improved in terms of dynamic
responsiveness and stability, enabling the Autopilot to perform more accurately and
efficiently.
The ComNav Heading Rate Stabilizer is designed to work with ComNav's Fluxgate Compass
(PN 20320004).

Other Compasses

ComNav recommends the use of ComNav's own compasses for the best performance of the
Commander P2 Advanced Autopilot system – but you certainly may decide to use either a
fluxgate compass or a magnetic compass from another manufacturer. See your ComNav
Dealer or consult the factory for information on interfacing these compasses with the
Commander P2 system.
Document PN 29010074 V3.1
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System Overview