Automatic Control of Ship Motion Conducting Search in Open Waters

In this work a search operation support system is presented, which is an additional autopilot function block. Its task is to lead a vessel included in the search by the SAR services to the datum position on the basis of the data entered by the operator into the system and then automatically to search the indicated area according to the newly defined search pattern. The set goal can be achieved thanks to the autopilot that guides the ship along a given trajectory consisting of straight lines and arcs. High control accuracy is provided by the IMC control system using a relatively simple non-linear ship model. The simulation tests of the tanker model confirmed that the indicated search area can be precisely checked in a shorter time than when using the expanding square search pattern.