Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) Sperry Marine business unit has introduced its next-generation integrated bridge system for ships, called Vision FT, that incorporates the latest advances in marine navigation technology and combines all of the ship’s navigation sensors and systems -- including radars, electronic chart display and information system, gyrocompass, depth sounder, speed log, differential global positioning satellite (GPS) receivers and autopilot -- into a completely integrated package.

The centerpiece of the system is Sperry Marine’s Voyage Management System (VMS) software, which provides easy and precise route planning and gives a clear real-time picture of the ship’s precise position and movement, along with radar targets and automatic identification system data, on an electronic chart display and information system.

“The Sperry Marine system enhances safety and navigation efficiency by improving situational awareness for the ship’s bridge watch officers,” said Frank Soccoli, director of marketing for Sperry Marine. “With the Vision FT system, we have incorporated the best proven features from our existing integrated bridge system (IBS) technology and added important improvements to take advantage of current and future technologies to meet customer requirements.”

The Vision FT represents a significant advance in IBS technology, according to Soccoli, who noted that the new bridge console designs have been optimized for modern, large-screen, high-resolution flat-panel color displays, with easy front-panel access for maintenance and repairs. The man-machine interface has been upgraded with a new ergonomic trackball control device and drop-down menu windows for easy operation to minimize the need for operator training.

“We have designed the Vision FT as an open-architecture platform for the next generation in ship navigation and control,” said Soccoli, who noted that Sperry Marine also previewed innovative new technologies in conjunction with the Vision FT IBS. For instance, the Sperry Marine PocketBridge remote wireless multi-function handheld devices will make it possible for the ship’s master and officers to view data from the IBS and other ship systems on a palm-type computer anywhere on the ship. Another new capability is NaviVision, an aircraft-style “heads-up” display that projects vital ship navigation data directly onto the bridge windows. “We are committed to thinking ahead and envisioning the next generation of navigation and ship control solutions,” said Soccoli.

Sperry Marine, with worldwide headquarters in Charlottesville, Va., and a major center of excellence for software engineering in New Malden, Surrey, United Kingdom, is part of Northrop Grumman’s Electronic Systems sector. The business unit provides smart navigation and ship control solutions for the international marine industry with customer service and support through offices in 16 countries, sales representatives in 47 countries, and authorized service depots in more than 250 locations worldwide.

Headquartered in Baltimore, Md., Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of defense and commercial electronic systems including airborne radar, navigation systems, electronic countermeasures, precision weapons, airspace management systems, communications systems, space systems, marine and naval systems, government systems and logistics services.