The Orca Core can control most autopilots. With Orca, you can control your autopilot from your phone, tablet, Orca Display 2, and the Apple Watch.
How do I control my autopilot?
Power on your Autopilot
Connect your Orca Display or Orca Mobile Application to your Orca Core
Press Navigation at the bottom of the chart screen
Swipe to the left-most instrument page to find your autopilot controls
From the Autopilot Screen, you will be able to change the mode and heading of your autopilot.
How do I make my autopilot follow a route?
To follow a route, create a route and select Nav as your navigation mode from the autopilot control.
Orca supports advancing through waypoints as traditional chartplotters. In Nav mode, a separate set of controls will appear that shows information about the upcoming leg.
Orca requires approval for all turns sharper than 30 degrees. Approval can be pre-granted up to 15 minutes ahead of the waypoint arrival. All other turns will be auto-approved.
What do I need to control my Autopilot?
Autopilots are systems that contain several parts:
Control Head - The display where you set headings, engage the autopilot, and selects steering modes.
Heading Sensor - A device that detects the boat’s direction using a compass, gyroscope, and/or accelerometer.
Autopilot Computer (Course Computer) - The central processor that receives sensor data, calculates steering commands, and manages overall autopilot behavior.
Actuator Control Unit (ACU) - Interfaces between the autopilot computer and the drive unit, delivering power and translating steering commands into motion.
Drive Unit - The mechanical or hydraulic component that physically steers the boat by moving the rudder or outdrive.
Chartplotter or GPS Receiver - Supplies position, course, and waypoint data for automated navigation along predefined routes.
Rudder Reference Sensor (optional) - Monitors the rudder’s position and provides feedback to improve steering precision.
Orca may replace and make redundant some of those components. In particular:
Control Head - With Orca, your mobile phone, tablet, Apple Watch and Orca Display 2 become Control Head unit. That said, we recommend to always have a backup Control Head on any autopilot installation
Heading Sensor - The Orca Core's high precission 9-axis gyroscope and accelerometer can act as your main heading sensor.
Chartplotter or GPS Receiver - The Orca Core provides navigational instructions to allow automated navigation along a predefined route.
Controlling your autopilot is a critical operation. Orca strongly recommends having redundant controls - always keep a non-Orca backup controller on board.
To work correctly, autopilots need input from several sensors. Here's what’s typically required for each mode:
Auto mode
Rudder angle
Heading sensor
Some autopilots also require: Course Over Ground (COG) and Speed Over ground (SOG) for leeway compensations.
Wind Mode
All requirements from Auto Mode
Magnetic variation sensor
Wind data sensor
Navigation mode
All requirements from Auto Mode
Navigation data from a navigation source, such as an Orca Core
The Orca Core is a complete data source of Heading, COG/SOG, Magnetic Variation, and Navigation Data for your autopilot.
Certain Raymarine autopilot models require Raymarine-branded sensors for input and may not accept Orca Core as a valid source.
Please consult Raymarine’s official documentation for compatibility details.
How do I set up my Core for Autopilot control?
Before you attempt to control your autopilot, be aware of the following:
Simrad, B&G, and Lowrance autopilots only support a single navigation source. For Navigation mode to work on these autopilots, you'll need to set Orca as your Navigation Data source on your Autopilot's Head Unit display
Some autopilots require the Orca Core to share Compass and GPS data to function. Calibrate your Orca Core and activate sharing via Main Menu > My Boat > Connected Devices before you activate your Autopilot
Do not activate a route on a traditional chartplotter and in Orca at the same time if both are connected to your autopilot's NMEA network.