Basic Autopilot Flashcards
It refers to a system of automatic controls which holds the aircraft on any selected magnetic heading and returns the aircraft to that heading when it is displaced from it.
Automatic Pilot
keeps the aircraft stabilized around its horizontal and lateral axes
Automatic Pilot
________ provide for one, two, or three stabilized planes.
Autopilot systems
Movement within each plane is _______, rather centered on axis.
about an axis
three principal axes
longitudinal, lateral, vertical
runs nose to tail through the CG
longitudinal axis
runs parallel with a line from wing tip to wing tip and intersects the x-axis at the CG
lateral axis
runs perpendicular to the other two axes intersecting them at the CG
vertical axis
axis on the x-axis
longitudinal
axis on the y-axis
lateral
axis on the z-axis
vertical
On ________, the power to move the control surfaces is provided by the muscles in the pilot’s arms and legs.
small light aircraft
The control column is physically connected to the control surfaces by ________.
cables
On __________, it is physically impossible to move the control surfaces by muscle alone.
larger aircraft
Wide bodied aircraft will corporate some form of _________ to move control surfaces.
power assistance
The __________ is provided by actuators or servo and these devices can operate from either mechanical input or electrical output.
power assistance
It detects the movement of the aircraft about its three flight axes and the rate of movement.
detecting element
It is considered to be internal controls or inner loop of the system.
detecting element
It is considered to be external controls or outer loop of the system.
command element
It computes, amplifies, and processes the signal from the detecting and command elements and directs the output element to respond to the pilot’s and or system requirements.
computer amplifier
This element consists of units, which move the control surfaces of the aircraft in response to the computer demands.
output elements
These are servo units, electric motors, electromagnetic solenoid valves controlling hydraulic actuators.
output elements
fifth element of many advanced autopilot systems
feedback or follow-up
This refers to signals sent as corrections are being made by the output elements to advise the autopilot of the progress being made.
feedback or follow-up
This is the basis for autopilot system operation.
error correction
When an aircraft fails to meet the conditions selected, an _____ is said to have occurred.
error
Two basic ways modern autopilot systems do for error correction
position-based autopilot, rate-based autopilot
A _____________ manipulates the aircraft’s controls so that any deviation from the desired attitude of the aircraft is corrected.
position-based autopilot
_________ is done by memorizing the desired aircraft attitude and moving the control surfaces so that the aircraft returns to that attitude.
position-based autopilot
A _________ uses information about the rate of movement of the aircraft, and move control surfaces to counter the rate of change that causes the error.
rate-based autopilot
What type of autopilot system do most large aircrafts use?
rate-based autopilot
Its basis is “Gyro, accelerometers, and others and other sensor equipment can detect the uncommand attitude changes far more accurately and then provide an electrical output to an actuator or servo.”
Fly-By-Wire Principle
When the pilot moves the control column or rudder pedals, an electrical signal from the stick or ________ is transmitted to an electrically operated actuator and the control surface is deflected by pilot’s input.
pedals transducer
When the pilot moves the control column or rudder pedals (a commanded attitude change), an electrical signal from the stick or pedals transducer is transmitted to an electrically operated actuator and the control surface is deflected by pilot’s input. In this electrically operated system, it is _________, not _________, which control the actuator or servo operation.
electrical signals, mechanical inputs
The _________ of the aircraft provide the flight control computer with inputs of heading, attitude, waypoints, etc.
avionics system
The ____________ repositions the actuator with electrical signals to maintain the aircraft on the programmed flight path.
flight control computer
The avionics system of the aircraft provide the flight control computer with inputs of heading, attitude, waypoints, etc. and the flight control computer repositions the actuator with electrical signals to maintain the aircraft on the programmed flight path. What is this called?
autopilot
Give at least one advantage of fly-by-wire principle
- improved reliability
- damage tolerance
- more effective control of a necessary highly maneuverable plane
Give at least one disadvantage of fly-by-wire principle
- redundancy (airline operator)
- complexity
- cost
The automatic pilot system flies the aircraft by using electrical signals developed in ___________.
gyro-sensing units
Gyro-sensing units are connected to flight instruments that indicate _______, _______, ______, or _____.
direction, rate of turn, bank, pitch
If the flight attitude or magnetic heading is changed, _____________ are developed in the gyros.
electrical signals
The electrical signals developed in the gyros when the flight attitude or magnetic heading is changed are sent to the autopilot computer/amplifier and are used to control the operation of _________.
servo units
A servo for each of the three control channels converts electrical signals into ________, which moves the control surface in response to corrective signals or pilot commands.
mechanical force
