A control system model for autonomous sailboat navigation

The author reports on research in the areas of decision support, for real-time information-rich environments and integrated automated control. Under current maritime law, a person is required to stand watch at all times; however, single-handed sailors cannot stand watch continuously during long offshore passages. It is hoped that systems like the one discussed will reduce the demands on the single-handed sailor and increase safety at sea. A sailing simulator, supplying the environmental inputs and displaying the results of control decisions, was designed and coded in Pascal. The simulator supplies the navigator with information on boat speed and position relative to a background displaying wind speed and direction and water depth. In addition, submodels were developed to represent the ballast control subsystem, the sail trim subsystem, and the helm control subsystem. The development goal is to produce a tool for comparing/modifying, actual boat-handling performance relative to goals established by an integrated model of the vessel's performance characteristics and the crew's capabilities.<>