An autopilot is a device that guides aircraft, ships, and spacecraft with little or no input from humans. It is necessary for long-distance flights to prevent pilot fatigue and errors. The first autopilot appeared in 1914, and modern autopilots have three levels of control. Most commercial aircraft have a three-axis autopilot, which can automate almost every step of the flight process.
An autopilot is a device, usually associated with aircraft, that helps guide aircraft with little or no input from a human. Although the term is typically used for airplanes, it can also refer to the autopilot on ships and spacecraft. In some cases, the term autopilot can describe a futuristic description of any type of fully navigated vehicle, including ground transportation such as automobiles.
It is in long-distance airplane flight that the autopilot becomes almost a necessity, as it quickly becomes almost impossible for a pilot to pay constant attention to the sky for the long periods of time required to fly. Although it is possible, and although this was done and is done in many cases, it can cause pilot fatigue, which in turn can lead to errors that can have serious consequences for the flight. An autopilot allows the pilot to transfer many of the mundane tasks of long-haul flight to an automated system, allowing you to maintain only distracted focus for long periods of time and avoid serious fatigue.
The original autopilot appeared in 1914, and was shown to the world by Lawrence Sperry, who went on a flight where he took his hands off the controls for an extended period of time. The autopilot included a system that connected gyro indicators to the aircraft’s rudders and elevators. This allowed the plant to fly both straight and level without any input from the pilot, and the gyros corrected for any variations that might occur.
Modern autopilots have three main levels that they can be set to, with each subsequent level taking more control over the plane’s flight. Autopilots are generally required for any commercial air vehicle that seats more than twenty people, as these are usually the vessels that go on long journeys and therefore need autopilot support. Small planes and personal aircraft only occasionally have an autopilot system, as they generally fly only a few hours at a time, and the pilot can be expected to remain in constant control of the aircraft.
The first level of autopilot in a modern aircraft only drives the roll axis of the plane, thus it is known as a single axis autopilot. This helps keep the wings level, so the flight doesn’t roll from side to side. This type of autopilot is sometimes known as a wing leveler. The second level of autopilot handles both the roll axis and pitch access of the aircraft, and is known as a dual-axis autopilot. A two-axis autopilot can be very sophisticated, using radio navigation to help correct flight quite drastically.
The third axis of an autopilot, the yaw axis, is only needed on larger aircraft, helping to automate the aircraft’s heading. Most large commercial aircraft have a three-axis autopilot, and in fact, almost every step in the process, from takeoff to landing, can be automated. Especially at airports with severe weather conditions, such as fog, category IIIb or automatic landing, the landing can be used regularly, since the machines can compensate for the lack of visibility. Category IIIc further automates the taxi, and while not currently in use, is looking to roll out at some airports, for a truly automated flight experience.
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