Raymarine Evolution autopilot upgrade

Raymarine's clever self-calibrating nine-axis autopilot, aptly named the Evolution, has had an upgrade to make it even more responsive, announces parent company FLIR Systems.

The Evolution Release 4 (R4) is being billed as the most significant update to its award-winning Raymarine Evolution autopilots ever.

Engineered for power and sail boat applications, Evolution R4 is said to bring wind and waypoint autopilot steering to new level of accurate and responsive control, making steering to a destination easier, faster, and more efficient.  

At the centre of every Evolution autopilot system is the nine-axis EV sensor core, which intelligently monitors vessel motion in all three dimensions, adapts to changing sea conditions, and makes autopilot installation easier by eliminating the need for complicated setup and calibration. 

With the Evolution R4 upgrade, the role of the EV core sensor has been expanded with patented algorithms for improving the accuracy of measured wind conditions. 

Evolution’s enhanced awareness of wind angle and wind speed is said to allow the autopilot to deliver crisp and responsive steer-to-wind control, giving both cruising and racing skippers the confidence to let Evolution take command in the most challenging conditions.

The R4 upgrade also introduces Evolution TrackIQ technology for best-in-class steer to GPS waypoint tracking. With integration to Raymarine multifunction displays, the EV sensor core’s patented TrackIQ algorithms are designed to compensate for the effects of sea conditions and vessel motion, allowing Evolution to make smoother steering commands and keep the vessel on a plotted GPS course with incredible accuracy.

"With our advanced Evolution heading and positioning sensing technology, Raymarine autopilots have set a new standard for accurate and responsive autopilot performance in the boating industry," said Grégoire Outters, Vice President and General Manager of FLIR Maritime.

"Evolution R4 takes our best-in-class autopilot steering performance to a new level of precision and control that will surely delight and instill confidence in every boater and sailor."

Evolution R4 also includes user interface enhancements and improved automatic calibration for easier commissioning and operation while underway. 

Evolution R4 is available as a free upgrade to all Raymarine Evolution autopilot owners. The upgrade can be downloaded direct from Raymarine’s website at www.raymarine.com/evolution.