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FlightGear Newsletter May 2010: Difference between revisions
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Describe XML autopilot work.
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A beta version has been finally released. For downloads and other info see [http://flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7225 the thread] on the forums. | A beta version has been finally released. For downloads and other info see [http://flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7225 the thread] on the forums. | ||
== | ==Development News== | ||
Due to a hard drive crash, the FlightGear CVS server is offline. We have full backups so there is no lost information, however, we determined that our efforts would be better spent migrating our repository over to git instead of bringing the old CVS server back online. Onwards and upwards! Please be patient as we migrate our data over to [http://gitorious.org gitorious.org]. Git experts will probably be able to find the simgear and flightgear projects at gitorious and get started right away. We will update this page with specific check out instructions as soon as possible. | Due to a hard drive crash, the FlightGear CVS server is offline. We have full backups so there is no lost information, however, we determined that our efforts would be better spent migrating our repository over to git instead of bringing the old CVS server back online. Onwards and upwards! Please be patient as we migrate our data over to [http://gitorious.org gitorious.org]. Git experts will probably be able to find the simgear and flightgear projects at gitorious and get started right away. We will update this page with specific check out instructions as soon as possible. | ||
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The local weather system has been updated to version 0.61 by Thorsten. This is mainly a bugfix release and includes speedups in many areas and changes in cloud rendering. | The local weather system has been updated to version 0.61 by Thorsten. This is mainly a bugfix release and includes speedups in many areas and changes in cloud rendering. | ||
More details [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7358 in the forum]. | More details [http://www.flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7358 in the forum]. | ||
===XML Autopilot Enhancements=== | |||
Several developers have been collaborating to make the autopilot system more flexible, allowing it express the kind of logic found in modern flight control systems without relying on Nasal helpers or custom C++ code. To this end, the expression syntax (used in XML animations) is now also supported in conditions, and in the autopilot inputs (including references). This enables mathematical and trigonometric functions, and operations like min, max and average, to be used in autopilot logic. Another addition is support for 1-bit storage elements, known as flip-flops in digital electronics, which allows many standard autopilot behaviours to be modelled with simpler, clearer XML and fewer helper properties. RS and JK flip-flop are available, as well as the less common D and T types. | |||
As an test-case for the new features, James is replacing the C++ autobrake logic with and XML version - once this is working reliably it will be installed in more aircraft, and should serve as an example for similar systems, for example auto-spoilers. | |||
In addition to adding these new features, there's been a concerted effort to document the existing components, and the new ones, and explain how to build a stable, working autopilot. A comprehensive reference page can be found [[Autopilot_Configuration_Reference|here]], and the how-to is [[Howto:_Design_an_autopilot|here]]. Both are works-in-progress, and feedback is appreciated! | |||
==Scenery Corner== | ==Scenery Corner== | ||