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  #1  
Old 02-04-2007, 02:29 AM
Steve Sampson Steve Sampson is offline
 
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Default When will glass cockpits add a wing leveller feature?

Since the major glass cockpits (Dynon, AFS, etc) all have a good grasp of what level is, it appears to me that the addition of a little software to drive a servo, to provide a wing leveller capability, is a relatively minor addition.

Any ideas if/when this will happen?

PS A secondary question about the Truetrack servos. Am I correct in thinking the pilot override of the servo command is simply the pilot input overriding the magnetic force of the stepper motor, rather than a friction based clutch?(Hope I have explained what I mean understandably.)
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  #2  
Old 02-04-2007, 02:45 AM
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AntiGravity AntiGravity is offline
 
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Question Fly it!!

Why do so many people seem intent on not flying their aeroplanes these days? (muses...)
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  #3  
Old 02-04-2007, 05:39 AM
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Kevin Horton Kevin Horton is offline
 
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Sampson
Since the major glass cockpits (Dynon, AFS, etc) all have a good grasp of what level is, it appears to me that the addition of a little software to drive a servo, to provide a wing leveller capability, is a relatively minor addition.

Any ideas if/when this will happen?
It has already happened.
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  #4  
Old 02-04-2007, 05:48 AM
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Geico266 Geico266 is offline
 
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Horton
Blue Mountain has been doing it for years.
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  #5  
Old 02-04-2007, 06:22 AM
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Ironflight Ironflight is offline
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Default

I guess it dpends on customer demand....when customers want it to happen, companies do it! I think I remember reading that GRT might add an A/P feature to the Sport system, but not to the Horizon EFIS. The idea is that keeping things modular allows more choices.

It's a little bit of a Mac vs. PC thing.......

Paul
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  #6  
Old 02-04-2007, 06:29 AM
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Nuisance Nuisance is offline
 
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I like the idea of separates. If the EFIS shoots craps in the clouds, the autopilot still knows which way is up, and can fly the airplane for you.

You are correct about the TruTrak servos. There is a torque setting that you set that allows it to be strong enough to fly the airplane, but weak enough that you can over power it in an emergency. You can program it in flight, so you just play with it until it feels right.

John
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  #7  
Old 02-04-2007, 08:08 AM
penguin penguin is offline
 
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Steve,

I think you would be surprised how difficult it is to make an autopilot with good dynamic behaviour. Although Blue Mountain have tried it how many good reports have you heard about their system? How many good reports have you heard about Trutrak autopilots?

Knowing where level is is only a small part of the equation - working out what to do when things are not level is the hard part, and it will be different for each different design, and perhaps each different aircraft of apparently "the same" design. I would stick with an AP from a specialist manufacturer, such as Trutrak or Trio.

Yours, Pete
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  #8  
Old 02-04-2007, 10:53 AM
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n468ac n468ac is offline
 
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We installed the autopilot as a backup to the EFIS ... since it can drive either on the GPS or it's own it's a great backup to an EFIS failure.
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  #9  
Old 02-06-2007, 03:18 PM
Steve Sampson Steve Sampson is offline
 
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Thanks for all the input!
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