IT Autoflight: Difference between revisions

|status      = V3.2.5 Stable

Download IT-AUTOFLIGHT V3.2.X from [https://www.github.com/it0uchpods/IT-AUTOFLIGHT.git here]!

The changelog for IT-AUTOFLIGHT V3.2.X can be viewed [https://github.com/it0uchpods/IT-AUTOFLIGHT/blob/master/CHANGELOG.txt here]!

== History/Information ==

IT-AUTOFLIGHT was first {{usr|it0uchpods}}'s attempt of making the autoflight system in the MD-88 more advanced. It used a modified Generic Autopilot, and a simple nasal logic controller which decided if the modes were active or not, and put them all under one switch. [https://github.com/it0uchpods/MD-88/blob/8c1d96e87918201bd997626ecab665ebca20bb28/Nasal/MD-88-autoflight.nas Here] is the very first Nasal controller for IT-AUTOFLIGHT. It would print modes into the console mainly for later debug. It was designed to put engaging/disengaging under one switch because {{usr|it0uchpods}} didn't know alot about the <enable> tags yet, and did not know complex conditions could be used (like the latest [https://github.com/it0uchpods/IT-AUTOFLIGHT/blob/master/Systems/it-autoflight.xml it-autoflight.xml] does). This went on for a while, with {{usr|it0uchpods}} refining it and adding things like LOC ARM/G/S ARM. Then {{usr|it0uchpods}} decided to install the system into other aircraft. This required property moving, and adding new logic for the thrust system, due to the way it had been integrated.

IT-AUTOFLIGHT got a new nasal file in Version 2.0. It was used to get rid of buttons in the cockpit and dialog having 10 or 12 bindings. [https://github.com/it0uchpods/MD-88/blob/8c402e6b9f3fd3a8c91520133b08d558c8a8e256/Nasal/MD-88-autoflight-logic.nas Here] is logic file for V2. This made integration into other planes alot easier. It still had fully generic controllers. Update 2.7 included automatic altitude capturing. After realasing some stability updates for update 2.9, {{usr|it0uchpods}} finally decided to get rid of the generic controllers, and use custom ones. With JWOCKY's help, {{usr|it0uchpods}} learned alot about PID Controllers, and installed his own based off the SYS8 controllers. 2 builds were released, V2.10, and V2.11. These included a major update to the dialog, FLCH mode, more advanced logic, and more. However, both were very unstable, and had alot of problems. They were quickly abandoned and replaced with the first V3.0 in development build.

IT-AUTOFLIGHT Version 3.0.0 was a major update for the system. It had fixed all the stability issues from V2.10, and V2.11. It also moved the engage logic mostly to the <enable> in the PID Controllers. The active modes, however, are still controlled in the nasal file. The 2 nasal files merged into one, and the Autothrottle moved to a seperate XML file, so that custom autothrottle systems can be used. You can now tune the controllers from the -set or -main file, and keep the ability to drop in updates, without needing to retune anything. It also includes a custom pitch system which used the elevator to set pitch, and the trim to keep the yoke as centered as possible. V3.0.0 also had a completely redone filesystem. All the properties are grouped, and renamed for easier understanding. Later on the FLCH controller was changed to 2 PIDs, for better control. Version 3.X will be the final version of IT-AUTOFLIGHT, as it will include all features of a current airliner Autoflight System, except VNAV. IT-AUTOFLIGHT V3.0.0 was released on August 8, 2017, and is technically the first release, despite being V3.0.0.

Changes include: Roll/Pitch Rate to drive Aileron/Elevator, Autoland Rollout Mode, and many improvements to stability, and operation. It also has new options which make it more modular, and easier to adapt.

Download the latest version of IT-AUTOFLIGHT V3.2.X from [https://www.github.com/it0uchpods/IT-AUTOFLIGHT.git here]. Extract the Archive with WinRAR, 7Zip, or similar. If you are using a custom instrumentation file, make sure it contains the <gps> item, as IT-AUTOFLIGHT uses it to get an accurate and stable V/S signal. You also need the property "<tt>/position/gear-agl/ft</tt>". This property is automatically created by YASim, but for JSBsim you need to add a calculation for it on your own. See instructions below.