Autopilot Enhancements
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Contents |
Background
Extending the current Autopilot System will help FlightGear in at least the following areas:
- easily demonstrate FlightGear capabilities that don't require much user interaction or familiarity with FlightGear [1]) or flight simulators in general
- employ the autopilot system in order to facilitate automated flights for benchmarking purposes [2] (see also FlightGear Headless)
- employ the autopilot system in order to facilitate automated flights for regression testing [3] (see also FlightGear Headless)
- help improve the predominant situation regarding lack of glass cockpit support (i.e. add capability to fly complex IFR procedures) [4]
- easily show-case non-trivial procedures and maneuvers, for example for tutorial/training purposes
Suggested New Low Level Modes
- Maintain glidepath/gradient (vertical speed per nm)
- Maintain roll/bank angle
- Maintain direction using differential thrust (for multi-engine airplanes)
- Maintain altitude via throttle
Suggested High Level Modes
(It should be possible to implement these modes by using the existing low level modes and some Nasal 'glue' code)
- Fly DME arc
- Holdings:
- Enter Holding Pattern
- Fly Holding Pattern
- Exit Holding Pattern
- Automated Procedure Turns
- Automated Takeoff
- Automated Landing
- Slipping
Generic Autopilot Configurations
Generic Autopilot Configurations files should be provided for all major types of vehicles supported by FlightGear:
- terrain vehicles
- unpowered flight (gliders)
- light single engine
- light twin engine
- jet aircraft
- helicopters
- maintain heading
- maintain airspeed
- maintain course
- maintain vertical speed
- VTOL
