In article ,
"Lynn Coffelt" wrote:

"luc" wrote in message
ups.com...
is a rudder angle sensor necessary for an autopilot? I thought the
heading of the boat would be sufficient.

There is no one sentence answer possible. Lots of boats steer to their
owners satisfaction without a rudder angle sensor. Most boats steer better
with a rudder sensor incorporated. Some boats can become absolutely unstable
and dangerous under autopilot control, and in these boats, rudder angle
input is absolutely necessary.
It's hard to go wrong with the sensor, and with many vessels (and
owners), a rudder angle indicator at helm stations is a great docking aid!

Old Chief Lynn



Just an note here....

Most of the Rudder Angle Sensers are just Linear Taper Pots, that drive
a Feedback Loop in AutoPilot Rate Control Circuit, BUT the Wood Freeman
RAS is very different, as it uses a Hall Effect Device, and is basically
the same device as the one in the Steering Compass. They both feed
OPAmps in the BrainBox. The Compass Senser drives the Course Feedback
Loop, and the RAS feeds the Rate Feedback Loop, and the Rudder Angle
Indicator Drive.

Bruce in alaska
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