The development of technology throughout history and maritime navigation has led to the appearance of the autopilot, which significantly improves maritime navigation and greatly reduces the need for manual steering. The paper presents the historical development of the autopilot, from its beginnings to the advanced autopilot system used today. Through a detailed analysis, the paper provides a basis for understanding the principle on which the autopilot system works and on which parameters and devices it depends for it to function successfully. The importance of knowledge of the operation of the system by the navigation officers was especially emphasized because the entire system is very complex and challenging and requires constant maintenance and control. Insufficient knowledge of the autopilot system and carelessness when using it, leads to potentially great dangers at sea and ship collisions.