Automatic Marine Pilot System.--A completely automatic marine pilot system which unerringly follows any course it receives from a human or automatic source has been developed for the U. S. Navy by engineers of the General Electric Company.
Where a helmsman frequently overcontrols the rudder in wind, swells and currents, the auto-pilot follows its course with an average variation of less than one-half of one degree.
Because the rudder is moved less often, some fuel savings should result from use of this equipment.
A second advantage, according to G. E. engineers, is the almost complete lack of maintenance required on the auto-pilot as compared with other automatic steering systems. Primary reason for this is the use of magnetic amplifiers, which have proved to be extremely capable of enduring the rigors of shipboard use, the engineers said. Amplifiers are used to step up a small amount of power to a higher power level when it is needed.
The G. E. auto-pilot has several operating highlights not found in manual systems. These include:
An automatic compensator which "trims" the ship when there is more force or resistance on one side of the vessel than the other. This keeps the vessel from taking a circular course when the majority of the power comes from one side.
A weather adjustment which may be set to minimize rudder action in heavy seas, thereby cutting down the stresses on the hull caused by excessive rudder movement.
An override which permits the helmsman to take the ship immediately from automatic control and place it under manual operation in emergencies.
An automatic turn compensator which keeps the ship from maneuvering past the desired compass heading in completing a turn. Frequently, helmsmen find it difficult to stop their vessels from turning past the desired point. This overcontrolling factor and resulting power waste have been eliminated with the auto-pilot.
The auto-pilot, now being installed on a Navy prototype destroyer, is capable of being used on any type vessel, G. E. engineers stated.
New
Anesthetic Drug.--A search of several years for a better all-around anesthetic drug has ended in the development of Surital sodium at Parke, Davis & Company, Detroit, Mich.
Dr. E. A. Sharp, director of clinical investigation, said, "Surital is a highlypotent compound which has proved to be in some respects superior to any intravenous short-acting anesthetic agent now available."
Surital, a new thiobarbiturate, already has been found to be safe and effective on thousands of patients. Among its many advantages are high potency; smooth and rapid induction of sleep, free of undue excitement or irritability; early and easy recovery, with infrequent side reactions; minimum respiratory depression; applicability over a wide age range; and usefulness among infants and children because of its effectiveness rectally.
Surital is currently available only to certain hospitals and it will be several months before production allows general distribution.