Escape Time II — The Contribution of Automatic Acquisition

Abstract

In a previous article about Escape Time the writer mentioned automatic acquisition; this is taken by the writer to mean acceptance by the computer/processor of a radar echo and the subsequent initiation of the tracking process if the echo satisfies the requirement of one or more paints every 6 scans, and is one of the 40 (in Digiplot) closest to own ship. But he took the advantages of it to be so obvious that no special stress was laid on the desirability of its inclusion as standard practice. However, it is clear from the replies to the IMCO questionnaire on Radar Plotting, notably that of the International Chamber of Shipping, that although a very high percentage of informed maritime opinion (97) is in favour of automatic (computerized) radar plotting, a somewhat smaller though still a preponderant (65) percentage favours automatic acquisition. A similar view is taken in the United States' reply. Although to the writer this seems to be illogical or without good reason, it may be of interest to examine some possible subjects of controversy.