compass
Enable an AI agent to recognise a navigational compass, assess whether its directional indication is usable, and determine appropriate observations, adjustments and uses.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
5 bundles · 9 layers · 16 findings · 29 questions
Direction and reference Establishes how this compass produces direction and what its indication means.
Sensing principle
Identifies the mechanism responsible for establishing direction.
Direction-producing mechanism
Record the supported instrument type and evidence identifying its sensing mechanism.
- What mechanism establishes direction in this instrument, and what observation or documentation identifies it? definition
- Does this object establish a directional reference itself or display direction supplied by another device? boundary
Reference and corrections
Captures the north reference and any transformation applied to the indication.
Indicated north and adjustment
Record the indicated reference and distinguish configured corrections from corrections applied after reading.
- Is the indication referenced to magnetic, true or grid north, or is the reference undocumented? definition
- What correction is already incorporated, and what source, date, location and sign convention support it? provenance
- What additional correction, if any, is required for the intended reference without duplicating an existing adjustment? action
Bearing acquisition Describes how instrument orientation becomes a readable heading or bearing.
Alignment and sighting
Connects the measured direction to the instrument axis, platform or target.
Bearing line
Record the physical or displayed features that define the direction being measured.
- Which sight, direction-of-travel arrow, lubber line or other index defines the bearing line? definition
- How is that line aligned with the target or platform axis, and is any mounting offset known? measurement
Scale and reading
Captures angular conventions and the procedure for extracting an indication.
Reading convention
Record scale units, graduation direction, reading index and supported reading precision.
- What units, numbering direction and smallest divisions does the compass use? measurement
- At which index and viewing position should the reading be taken to avoid reading the wrong end or introducing parallax? action
- Does the recorded value describe heading, target bearing or a reciprocal direction? definition
Directional reliability Captures evidence that an indication is stable and sufficiently accurate for its intended use.
Response and reference checks
Examines settling, repeatability and agreement with an independent directional reference.
Observed reading performance
Record test conditions, directional response and measured disagreement without assuming a universal acceptance tolerance.
- After changing orientation and returning to the same bearing, does the indication settle consistently, and within what observed time and spread? measurement
- What independent directional reference was used, and what errors were observed at the tested orientations? provenance
- What accuracy requirement applies to the intended use, and do the recorded checks support it? boundary
Interference and deviation
Examines external influences and installation-dependent directional error.
Environment-dependent error
Record applicable interference observations and the conditions under which compensation or deviation information remains valid.
- For a magnetic sensing instrument, does the reading change when nearby magnetic objects or electrical equipment are moved, removed or switched? measurement
- Is there a documented compensation setting or deviation record for this installation, and what changes would invalidate it? provenance
- What relocation, equipment change or specialist adjustment is supported when interference is observed? action
Operating readiness Connects compass-specific physical condition and operating dependencies to permissible use.
Orientation and dependencies
Identifies the attitude, setup and resources required for a valid indication.
Valid operating setup
Record applicable levelling, balance, mounting, power and initialization requirements.
- What operating plane, tilt range or geographic balance restriction is documented for this particular compass? boundary
- What levelling, mounting, power, calibration or initialization steps must be completed before taking a reading? action
Condition and service
Examines defects affecting the directional element, enclosure or reading interface.
Compass-specific defects
Record observed faults and use instrument-specific guidance to determine their consequences.
- Are there signs of needle or card contact, sticking, capsule leakage, bubbles, displaced markings or unreadable indications? measurement
- What documented limits distinguish an acceptable observation from a defect requiring service or withdrawal from use? boundary
- Which corrective actions are permitted for the user, and which require qualified servicing followed by a directional check? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Kinds and varieties
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of compass this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of compass this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of compass this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of compass this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of compass this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of compass this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of compass this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of compass this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.OBJ
- Other names and narrower kinds
- geologic compass, astrocompass, grid compass, compass gradient, recognition compass, satellite compass, compensated compass, Chinese compass, crown compass, Log Pose, luopan, Liahona
What it is Filled
A compass is a heading instrument whose directional system, such as a magnetized needle or card, a fluxgate or a magnetometer, senses Earth's magnetic field so that heading or bearing can be read against a graduated card or equivalent display.
In scope
- Direction-sensing mechanism and the reference direction it indicates
- Needle, card, scale, index and sighting arrangements used to obtain a reading
- Instrument alignment, mounting, levelling and orientation requirements
- Calibration, directional error, interference and evidence of reading reliability
- Physical condition and instrument-specific operating readiness
Out of scope
- Drawing compasses used to construct circles or transfer distances are outside scope.
- Gyroscopic, celestial and radio compasses using references other than Earth's magnetic field are outside scope.
- Maps, charts and geographic reference datasets are outside scope.
- Route planning, navigation decisions and journey execution are outside scope.
- The vehicle, vessel or other platform carrying the instrument is outside scope.
- Standalone position receivers and software navigation applications are outside scope.
Why it exists Filled
Enable an AI agent to recognise a navigational compass, assess whether its directional indication is usable, and determine appropriate observations, adjustments and uses.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Check whether the object provides a directional reference by sensing Earth's magnetic field; a printed compass rose or graduated disk alone does not establish this.
- Check whether its principal task is indicating direction rather than drawing circles with hinged legs and a marking point.
- Check whether an angle reading is referenced to an established direction; an ordinary protractor measures angles without independently establishing north.
- Check whether the indicated quantity is direction or heading rather than geographic position, and identify the component responsible when both are provided.
- Check whether the directional element actually responds under its specified operating conditions, distinguishing a functioning instrument from a decorative replica.
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Rely on a magnetic compass near strong magnetic fields or steel without correction.
- Give headings without stating whether they are magnetic, true or grid.
- Present a phone compass as reliable as a calibrated instrument for safety-critical navigation.
- Tamper with or move a ship's or aircraft's compass without authority.
Only with a human decision
- Navigating in poor visibility or near hazards where errors put lives at risk.
May
- Read headings and explain variation and deviation between magnetic and true north.
- Navigate with a compass it is authorized to use, cross-checking other sources.
- Report a compass that is damaged, sluggish or giving inconsistent readings.
Moral aspects Filled
- Wrong headings lead walkers, sailors and pilots into danger.
- Rescue services are put at risk when people navigate badly.
Who is affected
- Navigators and crews
- Walkers and climbers
- Rescue teams
Owners Filled
Steward
The person or operator who carries it.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q1780422 - registry parent class
- Q59137900 - registry parent class
- Q921229 - registry parent class
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.compass
- Wikidata: Q34735 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34735)
Direct properties required Filled
- Direction-sensing principle: Magnetic, gyroscopic, electronic magnetic sensing, other documented principle, unknown
- Indicated directional reference: Magnetic north, true north, grid north, other documented reference, unknown
- Direction reading: Degrees, mils or marked cardinal divisions, with scale convention and observation time
- Reading referent: Instrument axis, platform axis or sighted target associated with the reading
- Scale resolution: Smallest marked or displayed angular increment in the instrument's units
- Reference correction configuration: Correction type, signed angular value, convention, source and applicability; none or unknown
- Observed directional error: Signed angular difference from an independent reference, with test orientation and conditions
- Directional response: Settles repeatably, oscillates, sticks, drifts, gives no indication, untested
- Operating orientation: Required plane or mounting attitude and documented tilt limits; unknown
- Local magnetic influence: Suspected, observed, not detected under stated checks, unassessed, not applicable
- Instrument condition: Observed condition of relevant capsule, pivot, card, needle, display, markings and housing
Recognition required Filled
- A magnetised needle or card in a housing marked with cardinal points or degrees.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Read and record a heading or target bearing with its directional reference and operating conditions.
- Align the instrument with a target, map direction or platform axis using its documented reading arrangement.
- Compare repeated readings and an independent reference to assess directional reliability.
- Check susceptibility to local interference by changing location or nearby equipment conditions where appropriate.
- Apply or configure a documented directional correction while preserving the original reading and correction convention.
- Identify a need for calibration, servicing or withdrawal from navigation use based on observed defects and applicable requirements.
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Deviation from nearby metal or electronics gives false headings.
- A bubble or stuck needle gives misleading readings.
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), chapter V, International Maritime Organization.
Context of use required Filled
- A magnetic compass is used on land, at sea and in aircraft to indicate direction relative to Earth's magnetic field.
- It supports route finding, map orientation and bearing observations where local magnetic interference and the difference between magnetic and true north are accounted for.
Sources Filled
- ISO 25862:2019 Ships and marine technology - Marine magnetic compasses, binnacles and azimuth reading devices - Construction definition of a marine magnetic compass; Class A/B carriage scope; exclusion of dry-card and hand-bearing types; binnacle and azimuth-device requirements.
- ISO 14227:2001 Small craft - Magnetic compasses - Small-craft (hull length ≤24 m) magnetic-compass construction and performance; pivot-in-liquid definition; exclusion of dry-card and transmitting types; pointer to ISO 1069 vocabulary.
- IMO Resolution A.382(X) Annex II - Recommendation on Performance Standards for Magnetic Compasses - IMO definition of a magnetic compass; standard vs steering compass; card graduation, 0.5° directional-error limit, 1.4 m steering readability, damping/period tests at 18 µT.
- compass (Q34735) - Wikidata identifier; subclass of navigational instrument; also-known-as and language labels; distinction from a different 'compass' item.
- kompass - Practical kinds (orienteering, bearing, ship, fluxgate, aircraft); magnetic vs gyrocompass power distinction; Norwegian naming.
- Compasses Selection Guide: Types, Features, Applications - Industry kinds: thumb, gyro, solid-state, fluxgate, radio/ADF, prismatic hand-bearing.
- Terms in Compass Work - Specialist split into magnetic, gyro, and gyro-magnetic compasses; warning not to confuse gyrocompass with gyro-magnetic compass.
- The Magnetic Compass: Variation, Deviation, and the Turning and Acceleration Errors (ANDS/UNOS) - Variation vs deviation; aircraft turning/acceleration errors; FAR 91.205 backup role of the magnetic compass.
- Magnetic Compass Calibration: Frequency & Key Factors - Marine magnetic vs gyrocompass calibration drivers; ISO 25862/SOLAS V/IMO A.382(X) for magnetic, IMO A.821(19) for gyro.
- Magnetic deviation - Deviation as local ferrous/electrical error distinct from declination/variation; comparison with gyro, astronomical and satellite heading.
- SOLAS Chapter V - Magnetic Compasses (Regulation 19 guidance) - Carriage of a heading means independent of power supply; pelorus/bearings over 360°; A.382(X) and TMHD MSC.86(70) performance standards.
- Wikipedia: Compass - general description of the item
Open questions
- Does vr.tr.compass denote navigational compasses exclusively, or does the registry intend to include drawing compasses?
- Should magnetic, gyroscopic and satellite-based heading instruments share this model, or should existing neighbouring models own some of these types?
- Does an existing Vercy world model already own this concept and require this registry entry to link to it?
- Which authoritative instrument manuals or standards establish applicable checks and acceptance limits for each supported compass type?
- How should the model distinguish magnetic declination, installation deviation, grid conversion and automatic corrections across different reading interfaces?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q34735/spec.json