Evolution Autopilot Setup

[Steve - Raymarine - Moderator]

Evolution Autopilot Setup

While the Evolution autopilot system does not have a specific Seatrial Calibration program as did prior generations of Raymarine autopilots, the Dockside Wizard must be executed. When updated with the latest software for Evolution Autopilots, the autopilot control head will display the message "Detecting Magnetics" as a visual indicator that the autopilot system has not yet been able to determine the deviation field sensed by the EV-1/2 Sensor Core. Following execution of the Dockside Wizard, the vessel must be taken out for an approximately 15-20 minute cruise. During the cruise, the vessel speed should be maintained between 3 to 15 kts. During the cruise, the vessel should be steered through a couple of large figure 8 patterns at a relatively slow rate of turn to permit the autopilot to determine the maximum detected deviation throughout all points of the compass. Until completion of deviation sensing, the autopilot control head will display a progress bar with red or green indicator to aid the operator in identifying whether the vessel's speed and rate of turn (slower is better) is appropriate for detecting sensed deviation.

Upon completion of the cruise, display the maximum detected deviation (MENU->SET-UP->DIAGNOSTICS->ABOUT PILOT) ... scroll to the very bottom of the displayed autopilot information to find the maximum detected DEVIATION. Should the maximum detected deviation be less than 15 degrees (ideally, a single digit value), then heading alignment may be performed. Should the maximum deviation be greater than 15 degrees, then the EV-1 Sensor Core should be installed in another location where it may sense less magnetic deviation. Magnetic deviation fields are produced by ferrous materials (fasteners, engine block, tools, etc.), devices featuring magnets (speakers, pumps, electric motors, mascerators, etc.), and high current carrying conductors. Please click here to view a FAQ addressing this subject. vertical height has a much better effect on reducing deviation than horizontal distance, so if you are struggling to find a good inert location for the compass sensor, a general guide would be to move the compass AFT, then OUTBOARD and then UP - in that order, to escape the adverse effects.

Should the autopilot be newly installed, then no heading alignment changes should be made prior to having taken the vessel out for the cruise specified above and ensuring that the maximum detected deviation is less than 15 degrees. If so, then heading may be aligned to match the GPS COG. It is strongly recommended that the effects of leeway affecting the vessel be fully understood and minimize prior to commanding Heading to match GPS COG (MENU->SET-UP->AUTOPILOT CALIBRATION->COMMISSIONING->ALIGN COMPASS GPS).

Alternatively the autopilot's heading may be offset to match the vessel's properly calibrated fluid filled compass. Should you be uncertain about whether your vessel's fluid filled compass was calibrated by the boat manufacturer, then it is recommended that the boat's manufacturer be contacted to seek this information. Professional services may typically be obtained to calibrate the vessel's fluid filled compass. Alternatively, procedures for calibrating the vessel's fluid filled compass may often be obtained from the manufacturer of the compass. It should further be noted that marine electronics and any other equipment installed within 3' of the vessel's fluid filled compass following its calibration may affect the calibration of the fluid filled compass, necessitating that it be re-calibrated.

To align the Evolution autopilot's heading to that of the vessel's fluid filled, the device displaying the Heading data item (ex. autopilot control head, MFD, etc.) must first be configured to display Magnetic (not True) bearings. After doing so, should the heading specified by the device be within 9.9 degrees of the vessel's properly calibrated fluid filled compass (senses magnetic north), then the Evolution autopilot control head may be used to align the heading (MENU->SET-UP->AUTOPILOT CALIBRATION->VESSEL SETTINGS->COMPASS OFFSET) to match the heading indicated by the vessel's fluid filled compass. However, should the heading specified by the device not be within 9.9 degrees of the vessel's properly calibrated fluid filled compass, then the Evolution Sensor Core will need to be rotated within its mount in a direction which will decease the error to within 9.9 degrees (recommend trying to get within a few degrees). As the Evolution Sensor Core and MFD may be located well away from one another, it may be helpful to configure Wi-Fi equipped Raymarine MFD to display the Heading data item (not to be confused with COG) and then use one of the Raymarine Mobile Apps to repeat screen image of the MFD onto a Smartphone or tablet. While monitoring the app, changes to the Evolution Sensor Core's orientation will then be repeated on your smartphone or tablet. After properly orienting the Evolution Sensor Core, any further heading error may be removed via the Evolution autopilot control head's Compass Offset feature.

Following alignment of the compass and verification that the autopilot is functioning properly (i.e. take it on a test run), it is recommended that the Compass Lock be configured to ON. This feature will lock the heading sensor to the current deviation table stored within the Evolution Sensor Core. If not locked, the Evolution autopilot will continuously update itself with respect to sensed deviation and learning the response characteristics of the vessel for better course correction. Once Lock Compass is engaged, this learning process will cease and the autopilot will hold the settings that it has for the vessel.

RAYFAQ#