Prototype of Automatic Control System on Ship Eko Prayetno 1* , Risandi Dwirama Putra 2 , Deny Nusyirwan 3 , Indra Putra Almanar 4 , Islam Uzri 5 , Sapta Nugraha 6 , Dedi Pandu Winata 7 , Ade Fathurrahman 8 , AB Saman Bin ABD Kader 9 {ekoprayetno@umrah.ac.id 1 , risandi@umrah.ac.id 2 , denynusyirwan@umrah.ac.id 3 , alinput.2020@gmail.com 4 , nasutionalghi@gmail.com 5 , saptanugraha@umrah.ac.id 6 , dedipanduwinata007@gmail.com 7 , adefathurrahman4@gmail.com 8 , abdsaman@utm.my 9 } Department of Naval Architecture-Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Indonesia 1 , Department of Naval Architecture-Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Indonesia 2 , Department of Naval Architecture- Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Indonesia 3 , Department of Naval Architecture-Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Indonesia 4 , Department of Naval Architecture-Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Indonesia 5 , Department of Electrical Engineering-Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Indonesia 6 , Department of Electrical Engineering-Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Indonesia 7 , Department of Electrical Engineering-Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Indonesia 8 , Department of Aeronautics, Automotive & Ocean Engineering-Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia 9 Abstract. Autopilot control makes a system go to the expected target trajectory. It does not replace the human operator's role but only assists the part of the system control operator. Autopilot control systems contribute to reducing human resources in performing tasks to realize higher reliability, observation, and supervision. Therefore, this study aimed to design an autopilot control system using GPS, compass, and ultrasonic sensors. It used a prototype ship weighing 1.7 kg, with a length, width, and height of 90 cm, 20 cm, 10 cm, respectively. Furthermore, the study tested the prototypes under calm water conditions without extreme external factors. The ATMega 2560 microcontroller was used as an electronic circuit controller-GPS sensor for latitude and longitude coordinates. The results showed that ultrasonic sensors detect objects, while the compass sensor moves the steering gear and rudder to maintain the ship’s direction. Therefore, the ship could automatically avoid objects and navigate the target trajectory. Keywords: Autopilot, Control System, Microcontroller, GPS, Compass 1 Introduction Autopilot controls a system towards the target trajectory without replacing the role of human operators [1]. However, the system reduces human resources by performing tasks with higher reliability, observation, and supervision. Its purpose is to control the rudder's movement, ensuring that the ship's direction is maintained according to the target trajectory. This is because ships are always influenced by environmental disturbances caused by wind, tides, waves, and ocean currents at ICSEDTI 2022, October 11-13, Tanjungpinang, Indonesia Copyright © 2023 EAI DOI 10.4108/eai.11-10-2022.2326278