Navigational

Instruments with
Compasses
(Nav.1)

3/O EDMOND C. LICAYAN

Instructor
Gyro Compass
Gyro Compass
• Gyro Compass is a
navigational compass
containing gyroscope motor
that registers the direction of
true north along the surface of
the earth and it does not
depend on magnetism
• A compass with a motorized
gyroscope whose angular
momentum interacts with the
force produced by the earth’s
rotation to maintain a north-
south orientation of the
gyroscopic spin axis, thereby
providing a stable directional
reference.
Gyroscope
• A gyroscope is defined as a device that has
a spinning disc that is mounted on the base
such that it can move freely in more than
one direction so that the orientation is
maintained irrespective of the movement in
the base.
Principle of Gyroscope
• A gyroscope consists of a spinning wheel or
rotor contained within gimbals which permit
movement about three mutually
perpendicular axes, known as
the horizontal axis, the vertical axis, and
the spin axis. When spun rapidly, assuming
that friction is not considered, the gyroscope
develops gyroscopic inertia, tending to
remain spinning in the same plane
indefinitely. The amount of gyroscopic inertia
depends on the angular velocity, mass, and
radius of the wheel or rotor.
Principle of Gyroscope
• If a gyroscope is placed at the equator
with its spin axis pointing east-west, as
the earth turns on its axis, gyroscopic
inertia will tend to keep the plane of
rotation constant. To the observer, it is the
gyroscope which is seen to rotate, not the
earth. This effect is called the horizontal
earth rate and is maximum at the equator
and zero at the poles. At points between,
it is equal to the cosine of the latitude.
 Principle of Gyroscope
• If the gyro is placed at a geographic pole with
its spin axis horizontal, it will appear to rotate
about its vertical axis. This is the vertical
earth rate. At all points between the equator
and the poles, the gyro appears to turn partly
about its horizontal and partly about its
vertical axis, being affected by both horizontal
and vertical earth rates. In order to visualize
these effects, remember that the gyro, at
whatever latitude it is placed, is remaining
aligned in space while the earth moves
beneath it.
 Gyrocompass Operation
• The gyrocompass depends upon four
natural phenomena
[Link] inertia
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[Link]’s rotation

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 Gyrocompass Operation
• Gyroscopic Inertia - A freely spinning gyroscope will
maintain its axis of spin in the same direction with respect
to space irrespective of how its supporting base is turned. It
resists any attempt to change its direction of spin. Thus a
free gyroscope has high directional stability. This property is
called GYROSCOPIC INERTIA or RIGIDITY IN SPACE.

• Gyro Precession - Precession is the angular displacement

of the spin axis of the gyroscope when a torque is applied
to gyroscope. Hence, when a torque is applied to the spin
axis the resulting movement will be in the direction at right
angle to the applied torque. Earth is also a free gyroscope
pointing north axis toward Polaris. (rigidity in space). We all
are also aware that earth also possesses force of gravity.
 Errors of the
Gyro Compass
and their
Correction
 Errors of the Gyro Compass and
their Correction
 The total of the all the combined errors of the gyro
compass is called gyro error and is expressed in
degree E or W, unlike the magnetic compass error,
and being independent of Earth’s magnetic field,
will be constant in one direction; that is, an error of
one degree east will apply to all bearings all around
the compass.
 The errors to which a gyro compass is subject are
speed error, latitude error, ballistic deflection error
and gimballing error. Additional errors may be
introduced by a malfunction or incorrect alignment
with the centerline of the vessel.
Errors of the Gyro Compass and
their Correction
1. Speed Error – is caused by the fact that
the gyro compass only moves east or
west when it is stationary or placed on a
vessel moving exactly east or west. Any
movement to the north or south will
cause the compass to trace a path which
is actually a function of the speed of
advance and the amount of northernly or
southernly heading
Errors of the Gyro Compass and
their Correction
2. Tangent Latitude Error – is a
property only of gyros with mercury
ballistics, and is easterly in north
latitudes and westerly in south
latitudes. This error is also corrected
internally, by offsetting the lubber
line or with the small movable
weight attached to the casting.
Errors of the Gyro Compass and
their Correction
3. Ballistic Deflection Error – occurs
when there is a marked change in
the north-south component of the
speed. East and West acceleration
have no effect. A change of course
or speed also results in speed error
in the opposite direction, and the
two tend to cancel each other if the
compass is properly designed.
Errors of the Gyro Compass and
their Correction
4. Quadrantal Error
Two causes:
a. First occurs if the center of gravity of the gyro
is not exactly centered in the phantom. This
cause the gyro to tend to swing along its
heavy axis as the vessel rolls in the sea. It is
minimized by adding weight so that the mass
is the same in all directions from the center.
Without a long axis of weight there is no
tendency to swing in one particular direction
Errors of the Gyro Compass and
their Correction
b. Second source of quadrantal error is more
difficult to eliminate. As a vessel rolls in the sea,
the apparent vertical axis is displaced first to
one side and then the other. The vertical axis
gyro tends to align itself with the apparent
vertical. On northernly or southernly courses
and on easterly or westerly courses, the
compass processes equally to both side and
the resulting error is zero. On intercardinal
courses, the N-S and E-W precessions are
additive, and the persistent error is introduced
which changes direction in different quadrants.
Errors of the Gyro Compass and
their Correction
5. Quadrantal Error
This error is corrected by use of second
gyroscope called floating ballistic which
stabilizes the mercury ballistic as the
vessel rolls eliminating the error. Another
method is to use two gyros for the
directive element which tend to process in
the opposite directions neutralizing the
error.
Errors of the Gyro Compass and
their Correction
6. Gimballing Error – caused by taking
reading from compass card when it is
tilted from the horizontal plane. It applies
to the compass itself and to all repeaters.
To minimize this error, the outer ring of
the gimbal each repeater should be
installed in alignment with the fore and aft
line of the vessel. The lubber line must be
exactly centered as well.
 Errors of the Gyro Compass and
their Correction
7. Ballistic Damping Error – is a temporary
oscillation introduced by changes in course or
speed. During a change in course or speed the
mercury in the ballistic is subjected to centrifugal
and acceleration or deceleration forces. This
causes a torquing of the spin axis and subsequent
error in the compass reading. Slow changes do not
introduce enough error to be a problem, but rapid
changes will. This error is counteracted by
changing the position of the ballistics so that the
true vertical axis is centered, thus not subject to
error, but only when certain rates of turn or
acceleration are exceeded.
Definition of
Terms
Definition of Terms

• True North (T/N) – direction of the north

geographical poles
• Compass North (C/N) – direction
indicated by the north point of the
compass
• Magnetic North (M/N) – direction of the
magnetic meridian at any direction
• Variation (Var) – difference between T/N
and M/N.
• Deviation (Dev) – difference between
M/N and C/N
Definition of Terms
• Bearing (Brg.) – direction of terrestrial object.
• True Bearing (T/B) – is the horizontal angle between
the direction of the true north and the direction in which
the object lies, measured clockwise from true north.
• Magnetic Bearing (M/B) – the angle between the
direction of the magnetic north and direction in which
the object lies measured clockwise from magnetic
north.
• Compass Bearing (C/B) – the horizontal angle
between the direction of the compass north and
direction in which the object lies measured clockwise
from compass north.
• Relative Bearing (R/B) – is usually measured from
000° from ship’s head or bow clockwise through 360°.
Definition of Terms

• Course – direction in which the ship is heading

• True Course (T/C) – is the horizontal angle
between the direction of the true north and the
direction of the ship’s head measured clockwise
from true north.
• Magnetic Course (M/C) – is the horizontal angle
between the direction of the magnetic north and
the direction of the ship’s head measured
clockwise from north.
• Compass Course (C/C) – is the horizontal angle
between the direction of the compass north and
the direction of the ship’s head measured
clockwise from north.
Definition of Terms
• Compass error - the algebraic sum of the variation and
deviation, it is also the angle between the true north and
compass north.
• Lee way - the changes in a vessel’s course angle due to
the effect of a wind.
• Course make good - is the true direction of the ship’s
movement relative to the sea bottom.
• Course to steered - the heading indicated by the
lubber’s line of the compass being the direction in which
the vessel is heading.
• Correcting the Compass - is the process of converting
compass direction to true direction.
• Uncorrecting the Compass - is the process of
converting the true direction to compass direction.
Gyro Error
Gyro Error

• It is shown that gyro compass does not

point to true north unless it has been
designed to do so. Even then from the
instant its rotor starts spinning it takes a
certain amount of time to settle. Once
settled the axis of the gyro might not
align exactly to the north south meridian
in which in case it will either settle to the
east or west of the meridian. If this
happens it is called gyro error as it not
pointing to true north.
Gyro Error

Several Methods of Ascertaining

Gyrocompass Error:
1. Azimuth and amplitude methods.
2. Transit bearing
3. Comparing ships heading on the gyro
compass with that measured from a
navigational chart when chart is at port.
4. Comparing two gyro compasses where
error of one is known.
Gyro Error

• Is the difference between the gyro

reading and true course or bearing.
• We can have a West or East Gyro
Error.
• If Gyro is Least, Error is East (Low)
• If Gyro is Best, Error is West (High)
Example:

1. Gyro error is known to be 2° High. The

true course to be steered is 076°. What
is the gyro course?

Given:
True Course = 076°
Gyro Error = 2°H
Gyro Course = 078°
Example:

2. A bearing of an object is taken from the

same gyro gives 246°. What is the
True Bearing of the object?

Given:
Gyro Bearing= 246°
Gyro Error = 2°H
True Bearing = 244°
Example:

3. A bearing of an object is 089°T, and its

gyro bearing reads 090°. What is the
gyro error?

Given:
True Bearing = 089°
Gyro Bearing = 090°
Gyro Error = 1°H
Seatwork
1. True Bearing = 278° 5. True Bearing = 355°
Gyro Bearing = 276° Gyro Bearing = 353°
Gyro Error = ? Gyro Error = ?

2. True Bearing = 179° 6. True Bearing = 089°

Gyro Bearing = 178° Gyro Bearing = 090°
Gyro Error = ? Gyro Error = ?

3. True Bearing = 069° 7. True Bearing = 220.7°

Gyro Bearing = 071° Gyro Bearing = 219°
Gyro Error = ? Gyro Error = ?

4. True Bearing = 010° 8. True Bearing = 357.5°

Gyro Bearing = 011° Gyro Bearing = 356°
Gyro Error = ? Gyro Error = ?
Seatwork

9. A lighthouse ashore is sighted by gyro

compass repeater and is observed to
bear 310° per gyro compass. From the
ship’s fixed position, the charted True
Bearing of the lighthouse is measured
as 308.5°T. Find the Gyro Error.

10.A ship is heading 130° per Gyro

Compass. The Gyro Error is 1°E, what
is the T/C of the ship?
 Compass Error:

• It can be seen from the above diagram that the compass error is equal to the sum of variation and
deviation when both have the same name and equal to their difference if variation and deviation have
different names.
• A rule can be established from the diagram above:
1. If variation and deviation is of the same name, add their values and affix to the result (CE) their
common name.
2. If variation and deviation have different names, subtract the lesser from the greater value and
affix to the result (CE) and follow the name of the greater number
 Example No.1
Deviation = 05° E

Variation = 10° E

Three steps to follow when Compass

plotting Error
Diagram: = 15° E
1. True to compass is compass error = 15° E
2. True to magnetic is variation = 10° E
3. Magnetic to compass is deviation = 05° E
(the direction of this, is the name of deviation)
 Example No.2
Deviation = 10° W

Variation = 7.5° E

Three steps to follow when Compass

plotting Error
Diagram: = 2.5° W
1. True to compass is compass error = 2.5°W
2. True to magnetic is variation = 7.5°E
3. Magnetic to compass is deviation = 10°E
(the direction of this, is the name of deviation)
 CORRECTING THE COMPASS
 is the process of converting compass direction to true direction.

---------- Compass Course Going Down:

CAN (Magnetic or Standard
Compass) WEST Minus (-)
---------- Deviation EAST Plus (+)
DEAD
---------- Magnetic Course
MAN
---------- Variation
VOTE
---------- True Course (Gyro
TWICE Compass)
Example No.1:
A vessel steer a Compass Course of 130°. The Variation of the
area is 5° East and the Deviation is 2° West. Find the Magnetic course,
True course and Compass error of the vessel?

Compass Course = 130° Going Down:

Deviation = 2° West (minus)
Magnetic Course? = 128° WEST Minus (-)
Variation = 5° East (Plus) EAST Plus (+)
True Course? = 133°

For Compass Error

Deviation = 2° W

Variation = 5° E (different name, subtract and follow the

name of the greater)

Compass Error = 3° E
Diagram:
 UNCORRECTING THE COMPASS
 is the process of converting the true direction to compass direction.

---------- Compass Course Going Down:

CAN (Magnetic or Standard
Compass) WEST Minus (+)
---------- Deviation EAST Plus (-)
DEAD
---------- Magnetic Course
MAN
---------- Variation
VOTE
---------- True Course (Gyro
TWICE Compass)
Example No.2:
A vessel steer a True Course of 230°. The Variation of the area
is 4° West and the Deviation is 9° West. Find the Magnetic course,
Compass course and Compass error of the vessel?

Compass Course = 243° Going Down:

Deviation = 9° West (Plus)
Magnetic Course? = 234° WEST Plus (+)
Variation = 4° West (Plus) EAST Minus (-)
True Course? = 230°

For Compass Error

Deviation = 9° W

Variation = 4° W (same name, ADD and follow the name)

Compass Error = 13° W

Diagram: