Lateral Autopilots

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Introduction

Autopilot uses:

For safety reasons

Lowers pilot workload (especially for long flights)

Types

Control or Hold certain flight parameter(s)

Perform navigational tasks

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Introduction

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Introduction

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Lateral Autopilots

Bank/Roll Angle Hold

Coordinated Roll Angle hold

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Bank Hold Autopilot

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Bank Angle Hold

Prevents pilot having to constantly control roll angle.

Autopilot mode analysis/design, 2 important questions:

Which type of control device do we use?

Ailerons

What type of feedback loop structure (sensor)?

Roll Angle gyro

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Bank Angle Hold

In simplest form it is a wing leveler

An Attitude Sensor, roll gyro, is used to sense deviation
Bank Angle feedback gives positive stiffness in roll and
stabilize the spiral mode.
If the aircraft is held at some other attitude other than
wing level, additional control systems must be used to
control sideslip and pitch rate, so that a coordinated
turning motion is produced.
This control system can provide the inner loop for other
autopilots, e.g. to maintain Fixed Heading etc.

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Bank Angle Hold

Block Diagram

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Bank Angle Hold

Block Diagram

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Bank Angle Hold

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Bank Angle Hold

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Bank Angle Hold

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Bank Angle Hold

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Bank Angle Hold

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Bank Angle Hold

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Bank Angle Hold

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Bank Angle Hold

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Bank Angle Hold

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Bank Angle Hold

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Bank Angle Hold

Spiral Mode ( < 10)

Roll Mode ( < 0.2)
Dutch Roll Mode ( > 0.1)

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Coordinated Roll Angle hold Autopilot

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Coordinated Roll Angle hold

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Coordinated Roll Angle hold

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Heading Angle hold Autopilot

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Heading Angle hold

Prevents pilot having to constantly control altitude during

the flight

Autopilot mode analysis/design, 2 important questions:

Which type of control device do we use?

Rudder/Aileron

What type of feedback loop structure (sensor)?

Sideslip Sensor, Gyro

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Heading Angle hold

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Heading Angle Hold

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Heading Angle Hold

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Heading Angle Hold

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Heading Angle Hold

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Heading Angle Hold

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Summary

For each Hold autopilot there are two important

questions:

Keep controller as simple as possible

Which type of control device?

Which type of feedback? loop structure? sensors?
Proportional only (if acceptable)
PD, PI, Lead/Lag, etc

The closed loop system must comply with the

airworthiness requirements

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Summary

Take into account the inner loop, when constructing the

outer loop.
Keep in mind the possible effects on the closed loop
system of:

Servo break frequency

Flight condition (airspeed, altitude)
etc...

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