Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Describe the use of radio waves in navigation systems.
• Describe a hyperbolic positioning system.
• Describe the operational principles of global navigation satellite systems, such as the GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO.
• Describe the operational principles of shore-based augmentation systems, such as the differential GPS.
• Describe the operational principles of echo sounder systems (electronic depth sounding systems).
• Describe the operational principles of electronic speed and distance measurement systems.
• Describe the operational principles of an AIS (Automatic Identification System).
• Describe the operational principles of a VDR (Voyage Data Recorder).
• Describe the theory of magnetism as applied to ferromagnetic materials.
• Describe the effects of the earth’s magnetic field, and the ship’s magnetic field, on the compass needle.
• Describe the principles and operation of the gyrocompass.
• Explain the principles and operation of fluxgate compasses, and transmitting magnetic compasses.
• Describe the principles and operation of an automatic pilot system (automatic steering system).
• Describe the theory and operation of marine radar systems.
• Describe the operational principles of Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA).

Effective as of Spring/Summer 2019