Yawmeter

A yawmeter is a sensor that measures a vessel’s yaw rate, the angular velocity about the vertical axis in degrees per minute, the same quantity displayed by the bridge rate-of-turn indicator required under SOLAS Chapter V for larger ships. Modern units use a rate gyro or a MEMS angular-rate sensor, and the signal feeds the autopilot or track-control system so the heading controller damps overshoot and holds the planned turn radius. In ship maneuvering trials the yaw-rate trace characterizes turning response and course-keeping stability. The instrument name is non-standard at sea, where the equivalent reading is shown by the rate-of-turn indicator.