The SteerMaster Control System is the first network-based combination of a manual
marine steering system and a self-tuning adaptive heading control system.
A SteerMaster Control system comprises three cardinal components:
The NAVIGUIDE 4000 Manual Marine Steering System
The NAVIPILOT 4000 Self-Tuning Adaptive Heading
Control System
The NAVINET 4000 Ship Steering Control Network
Although conceived as a combined system, the very flexible configuration and
modular design features also allow individual application of only the NAVIGUIDE
4000 or only the NAVIPILOT 4000 together with the NAVINET 4000 Ship Steering Control
Network. In this way, all customer requirements can be met with economical solutions.
SteerMaster is simple to install and can be used on vessels of all types and
has ample provision for future expansion and upgrade if required. The marine steering system's
unique network architecture will result in up to 25% cost saving in installation
and cabling. NAVIGUIDE 4000, based on the NAVINET 4000 Ship Steering Control Network,
and NAVIPILOT 4000 have been type approved by Germanischer Lloyd.
Based on an industrial computer area network, the NAVINET 4000 Ship Steering Control
Network forms the backbone of the system, which is one of the first to implement
the new US National Marine Electronics Association NMEA 2000 Data Communications
Standard.
The sophisticated, state-of-the-art software design facilitates simultaneous
intercommunication and switchover of multiple control units within the network
system.
A flexible modular design, the NAVIGUIDE 4000 program provides all components
for follow-up (FU) and non-follow-up (NFU) manual marine steering for single and dual
rudder systems.
A basic configuration with single FU and double FU for a single rudder, comprising
a FU hand wheel, an NFU tiller, a rudder angle feedback unit, a steering mode
selector, a ship steering alarm module and a ship steering control unit, can be expanded
considerably by simply connecting additional components to the NAVINET 4000
network.
When the Sperry Marine SyncroHelm technology is also included in the marine steering system, the NAVINET 4000 Steering Control Network synchronizes automatically
all FU wheels on the main bridge and bridge wings.
The NAVIPILOT 4000 Self-Tuning Adaptive Heading Control System carries out real-time
adjustments for load dynamics and weather conditions. The NAVIPILOT 4000 is
dynamically tuned during an adaptation procedure involving short, simple initial
maneuvers before automatically and continuously refining the tuning throughout
the voyage to suite the ship's behavior with regard to load and weather conditions.
The NAVIPILOT 4000 provides manual selection of steering strategies to adapt
to both weather and load conditions, whereas the automatic self-tuning capability
generates fewer and smaller rudder movements resulting in lower fuel consumption
and less wear and tear on the steering gear.
