5 ms·
One thing to keep in mind is that any type of auto-fly is dependent on a LOT of automation systems on the plane itself being functional. For example, instrument
by kgilpin 7y ago
One thing to keep in mind is that any type of auto-fly is dependent on a LOT of automation systems on the plane itself being functional. For example, instruments, sensors, autopilot, auto throttle.
To be considered safe, an auto-fly needs to be able to gracefully degrade as the subsystems in which it depends start to fail. Human pilots are trained to handle this by compensating for system failures in a variety of ways, including compensation (eg in a split flap scenario) and disabling (turning off a misbehaving autopilot). Ultimately, a human pilot can always turn off all the automation and fly the plane by looking out the window (or, in poor conditions, using gyro powered “steam” gauges).
In the case that the pilot is disabled, then auto-land is a great option, even though it’s reliant on so many subsystems. But for an always-on auto-fly, the requirement to gracefully degrade, and degrade, and degrade, and still operate at the level of a human pilot using the “Mark 1 eyeball” is a tough one which hasn’t yet been met (as far as I know).
There’s mention in this discussion of fully automated drones. But, those are basically expendable if there’s a serious system failure, since there are no souls on board.
- AWildC182 7y agoGyro powered steam gauges are all but gone from aviation. The GA fleet is even shedding them at a promising rate. MEMS based independent systems with backup power are solid state and far more reliable than a janky vacuum pump driven by the engine running a couple clockwork instruments.
- mixedCase 7y agoSorry to be a pedant but since it took me a second to get it at first: "all but gone" implies that they're definitely still here, I think something like "almost gone" or "almost out of use" would be the right phrasing.
- kube-system 7y ago'all but' is an idiomatic synonym for 'almost'. https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/all+but https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/all+but
- Denvercoder9 7y agoall but is an expression meaning almost. See e.g. https://grammarist.com/usage/all-but/ https://grammarist.com/usage/all-but/. It's one of the most confusing English expressions I've encountered.
- outworlder 7y agoI don't see how that's relevant. _They can and will still fail_ What happens then they do?
- AWildC182 7y agoYou have more than one independent system. A typical glass panel install will have a primary ADAHRS (air data attitude and heading reference system which contains a MEMS magnetometer, gyro, accelerator, pitot static pressure transducers, and processor) and a secondary ADAHRS both connected to the primary flight displays. Should one fail, you have a fallback for your PFD. As a backup, were you would normally have a vacuum gyro, you have a small glass panel (the garmin offering is the G5) which contains it's own built in ADAHRS and battery and will continue running even with the entire aircraft electrical system disabled.
- kgilpin 7y agoMost of the GA fleet is still vacuum powered for backup.
- AWildC182 7y agoWhy do people keep parroting this? I know of exactly zero aircraft currently produced that are retaining the vacuum system and I've seen very few retrofits that retain the vacuum on the engine. The aircraft in operation with vacuum systems use them as primary systems but are moving away from it with each annual.