4 ms·
Steering an airplane is a fun one - you the pilot want to set the compass direction of the plane. The derivative of that is the rate of turn, corresponding to b
by QuadrupleA 4y ago
Steering an airplane is a fun one - you the pilot want to set the compass direction of the plane. The derivative of that is the rate of turn, corresponding to bank angle. But what the yoke / stick actually controls is the derivative of that, the bank angle rate / roll speed.
So pilots have to sort of double-integrate to set their heading.
- isametry 4y agoHuh, this is interesting! So to put that into context, driving a car is only the 1st derivative right? The steering wheel angle corresponds (although nowadays non-linearly) to that of the wheels, a function of which is the driving direction. Do you know whether the “angle rate” behavior is unique to airliners, or does it apply to other aircraft as well? Because my assumption (based mostly on imagination and videogame controls) would be that f''(x) handling can’t be reactive enough for the real-time type of flying done in helicopters or fighter jets…?
- QuadrupleA 4y agoYeah, car is one step simpler, steering wheel sets the derivative of direction (turn rate). Fighter jets definitley have that same double-integration, although they can handle super fast control inputs, roll speeds etc. Not as familiar but I think helicopters too - the cyclic stick controls bank angle and pitch, which you'd use along with the pedals during turns in moving flight. But while hovering in place you could rotate with just the pedals (tail rotor) more like steering a car.
- BrandoElFollito 4y ago> The steering wheel angle corresponds (although nowadays non-linearly) to that of the wheels This is interesting, I always thought that it was linear. I was wondering about how speed impacts this (if at all) and now I will have to dig deeper :)