The Impulse Navigation panel assists with the navigation of pre-plotted courses during impulse operations.

The panel consists of a scrollable list of course points and a 2D impulse map displaying the location of the course points, Astronomical Objects (AOs) and the vessel.

Course Relative to Focus

Courses are relative to the panel's current focus. Changing the focus will update all course points accordingly.

Course Selection

1. Current Course

This indicates which course is currently being displayed.

2. Course Select

Tap this button to select a new course.

3. Free Nav

This button toggles between frree nav mode. When active, no plotted courses are displayed, leaving the impulse map free to draw a course onto using the markup tool.

The POI can be used to identify the grid co-ordinates and bearing of each point on the course.

4. Course Point List

This scrollable list displays the course points included with the selected course (not available in free nav mode). An example course point is shown.

Each course point includes the grid co-ordinates, the heading required from that course point, and the bearing required to achieve that heading. The first course point does not show a bearing as this is dependent on the approach heading.

The specific course point currently being navigating towards is highlighted green (as is the corresponding dot on the map). On loading the panel the first course point is highlighted by default. The highlight can be moved by tapping the desired course point. To remove the highlight, tap the already highlighted course point.

When the vessel navigates within a certain radius of the current course point the highlight automatically moves to the next course point. The default radius is adjustable using the dialog under the course selection list.

When a new course is selected it may include default radius and focus information. If so, the impulse map will automatically update with this new configuration.

Maneuver Types

Data layout changes if particular maneuver types are specified.

Radial Maneuver

A radial maneuver requires a bearing applied over a series of maneuvering cycles that results in a circular course of a particular radius.

A radial maneuver has two course points. The entry course point has a maneuver type of RAD and specifies the radius required for the maneuver (instead of displaying a heading). In the example panel image, CP4 is the entry course point for a radial maneuver.

The exit course point displays the heading required at the end of the maneuver, but displays the number of maneuvering cycles required to reach that heading (instead of displaying a bearing). The number of maneuvering cycles is calculated based on the currently selected cruise speed and the radius specified in the entry course point. The underlying calculation is the same used by the Held Bearing Calculator (HBC). In the example panel image, CP5 is the exit course point for a radial maneuver.

5. Impulse Map

The impulse map (4) displays course points as silver dots, with the point’s order number displayed in the centre. The currently highlighted course point is displayed as a green dot.

Where multiple course points overlap, the earliest course point will be displayed until the vessel navigates beyond the following course point, after which the later course point will be displayed.

Stars are displayed as yellow dots with their designation listed below. Other AO’s are displayed as blue dots with their system number displayed in the centre.

Other impulse map features such as the ability to set the map’s focus co-ordinates and radius (scale) work as normal. Focus and radius may be updated automatically when a new course is selected, although this can then be overridden by the user.

Markup and course trail options can be activated at the bottom right of the map ((7).

6. Focus

The center of the impulse map is it's focus. The co-ordinates of the map focus can be set here.

Alternatively, tapping the currently active scale button will re-focus the map on the vessel.

7. Map Radius

The impulse map's scale can be selected from one of five options, represented as a radius in GUs.

8. Point of Interest (POI)

Tapping any point on the impulse map will asctivate a purple dot (which represents the POI) and display the POI's co-ordinates in an interface at the bottom right of the panel. Bearing and range of he POI from the vessel are also displayed.