Predictive gain scheduling autopilot for ships

The paper presents results of research with the new predictive autopilot structure (PIP+D) with gain scheduling. The autopilot is tested and compared with conventional PID autopilot for a mariner class ship. The autopilot parameters are changed with the speed of the ship using the gain scheduling technique. Results obtained during the research show that the proposed autopilot structure is to be recommended if improved performance is of prime interest, when the velocity of the ship is changing. The analysis is based on the simulation of a mariner class ship as a nonlinear system, with the steering servo system taken as a nonlinear model. Results of the simulation are included.