Advanced ship autopilot system

An automated ship navigation control system for controlling a ship's navigation comprising:

• a correlation processor for receiving input values and for determining according to a non-linear correlation of those values a set of predictions relating to ship navigation;
• a sensor for determining the ship location and for providing a location signal indicative of the determined ship location to the correlation processor;
• a sensor for sensing a slip state, the ship state including a physical setting of a ship system, and for providing a ship state signal indicative of the sensed ship state to the correlation processor;
• means for providing values relating to a current control signal to the correlation processor;
• a modified generalized predictive controller based on a time varying linear model determined from the set of predictions front the correlation processor and for providing a control signal indicative of navigation control, the modified generalized predictive controller for controlling differently in dependence upon at least one of a mode of operation and variations in the accuracy of the controller to cause the vessel to navigate along a predetermined path.

A method of control for a process comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a correlation processor for determining according to a non-linear correlation a set of predictions of process progress based on a set of sensory input values;
• (b) determining from the predictions and from actual process progress a control law of the process;
• (c) using the control law, forming a predictive controller for providing a control signal indicative of process control;
• and,
• (d) at intervals updating the predictive controller based on another control law formed according to step (b).