AUTOPILOT SYSTEM
Autopilot system is one of the main and fantastic control system developed by Sperry Corporation in 1912.
DEFINITION:
The Autopilot or Automatic pilot is a system of automatic controls that holds the aircraft on any selected magnetic heading & returns the aircraft to that heading when it is displaced from it. The Automatic Pilot also keeps the Aircraft stabilized around its horizontal & lateral axes.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of an Autopilot system is primarily to reduce the work strain and fatigue of controlling the aircraft during long flights. It allows the pilot to maneuver the aircraft with a minimum of manual operations. It provides for one, two or three axes control of the aircraft.
PRINCIPLE:
The autopilot system flies the aircraft by using electrical signals developed in GYRO sensing units. These units are connected to flight instruments that indicate direction, rate of turn, bank or pitch. If the flight altitude or magnetic heading is change, the electrical signals are developed in the Gyro’s. These signals are used to control the operation of the servo units, which convert the electrical energy into mechanical motion.
The servo is connected to the control surface & converts the electrical signal into mechanical force, which moves the control surface in response to corrective signals or pilot commands.
BASIC COMPONENTS:
The Autopilot system contains some basic components. They are
1. The Sensing elements. (Gyro’s)
2. The Command elements.
3. The Computing elements (Amplifier)
4. The Output elements. (Servo’s).
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SENSING ELEMENTS-GYRO:
The directional GYRO, turn and bank GYRO, altitude GYRO, and Altitude control GYRO are the sensing elements. These units sense the movements of the aircraft & automatically generate the signals to keep the movements in control.
COMMAND ELEMENTS:
The command unit (flight controller) is manually operated to generate signals that cause the Aircraft to climb, dive or perform coordinated turns. Additional command signals can be sent to the Autopilot system by the aircraft’s navigational equipments. The Autopilot system is engaged or disengaged electrically or mechanically depending on design.
COMPUTING ELEMENTS: COMPUTER OR AMPLIFIER:
The computing element consists of an amplifier or computer. The amplifier receives the signals, determines what action to the signals is calling for and amplifies the signals received from the sensing elements. It passed these signals to the Ailerons, rudder & elevator servo to drive the control surfaces to the position called for.
OUTPUT ELEMENTS: SERVO MOTORS
These are the servo motors. Which actuate the control surfaces. The majority of the servos in use are either electric motors or electro pneumatic motors.
DEFINITION:
The Autopilot or Automatic pilot is a system of automatic controls that holds the aircraft on any selected magnetic heading & returns the aircraft to that heading when it is displaced from it. The Automatic Pilot also keeps the Aircraft stabilized around its horizontal & lateral axes.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of an Autopilot system is primarily to reduce the work strain and fatigue of controlling the aircraft during long flights. It allows the pilot to maneuver the aircraft with a minimum of manual operations. It provides for one, two or three axes control of the aircraft.
PRINCIPLE:The autopilot system flies the aircraft by using electrical signals developed in GYRO sensing units. These units are connected to flight instruments that indicate direction, rate of turn, bank or pitch. If the flight altitude or magnetic heading is change, the electrical signals are developed in the Gyro’s. These signals are used to control the operation of the servo units, which convert the electrical energy into mechanical motion.
The servo is connected to the control surface & converts the electrical signal into mechanical force, which moves the control surface in response to corrective signals or pilot commands.
BASIC COMPONENTS:
The Autopilot system contains some basic components. They are
1. The Sensing elements. (Gyro’s)
2. The Command elements.
3. The Computing elements (Amplifier)
4. The Output elements. (Servo’s).
¬
SENSING ELEMENTS-GYRO:
The directional GYRO, turn and bank GYRO, altitude GYRO, and Altitude control GYRO are the sensing elements. These units sense the movements of the aircraft & automatically generate the signals to keep the movements in control.
COMMAND ELEMENTS:
The command unit (flight controller) is manually operated to generate signals that cause the Aircraft to climb, dive or perform coordinated turns. Additional command signals can be sent to the Autopilot system by the aircraft’s navigational equipments. The Autopilot system is engaged or disengaged electrically or mechanically depending on design.
COMPUTING ELEMENTS: COMPUTER OR AMPLIFIER:
The computing element consists of an amplifier or computer. The amplifier receives the signals, determines what action to the signals is calling for and amplifies the signals received from the sensing elements. It passed these signals to the Ailerons, rudder & elevator servo to drive the control surfaces to the position called for.
OUTPUT ELEMENTS: SERVO MOTORS
These are the servo motors. Which actuate the control surfaces. The majority of the servos in use are either electric motors or electro pneumatic motors.
