5.0 Software (THE AUTOPILOT) Released!

[dynonsupport]

Dynon's 5.0 software is now available for download on our website. This software is the first version to include full support for the Dynon Autopilot, including the Servos and the AP74 control panel. For those of you who haven't bought our autopilot (yet) this version also adds full EFIS and GPS datalogging.

The autopilot includes heading holds and changes, track holds and changes, GPS NAV mode (including GPS steering in some configurations), 180 degree emergency turns, altitude hold, altitude select, trim sensing, airspeed limiting, G limiting, and more. All for only $750 per servo. Servos are in stock and ready to ship if you haven't already ordered yours.

Flying a VOR or ILS is planned for the next update as well as other features.

A big thank you goes out to all of our beta testers, who have done a fantastic job over the past 6 months. You have them to thank for a lot of the features that are in (or will be in) the system, as well as some very nice install guides for popular aircraft. They've collectively put in hundreds of flight hours in a wide range of airframes, so you know you're buying a well tested system.

Full documentation for installation and pilots guides are also available. We tried very hard to document all of this the best we could!

Please head to the download page for the latest software:

5.0 Software Download Page: http://dynonavionics.com/docs/support_software_200811.html

AP Information Page: http://dynonavionics.com/docs/Autopilot_intro.html

 

[DBRV10]

Great news!

I see the Vertival nav functions for the AP76 are available with ver6.0 and it says mid 2009.

I assume mid 2009 might be June or July, does this mean the AP76 itself will not be available untill then, or will it be available but a software download will be required for those functions to work properly?

I may need to go for the AP74 to start with, but I have plenty of time for now to wait, but not July!

Cheers

David

 

[dynonsupport]

We don't know exactly when it will be for sale. It's hard to predict how the testing will go for sure. We won't sell the AP76 until all the software is ready.

We already planned for this, in that the AP76 is a drop in replacement for an AP74, and we'll give you full credit for the AP74. So go ahead and cut that hole, get your wiring ready, and then order the AP74 or 76 right before your first flight.

 

[Etienne]

Thankyou everybody

Pity the ZAR/USD crashed before I could order my servos :'(
The EFIS logging will be great though, it's been a lo(n)g time coming!

 

[WestCoastOz]

In the latest software release (V5.0) I note that an "audible 3-tone alert on autopilot disengage" has been added.
Can you please advise as to whether this will work with existing autopilots (non Dynon) or is it a function only available with the Dynon autopilot? (I don't have a HS34/AP74 installed)

Thanks.

 

[dynonsupport]

This only works with the Dynon AP, with or without the AP74. We have no idea if another AP has disengaged. As far as I know, none of the competing autopilots have any kind of output to warn the pilot of a disengage, so there's nothing for us to read.

 

[Etienne]

Scary Upgrade

I did the upgrade procedure yesterday. I went from version 3 straight to 5.

The first part of the upgrade went fine. Then I got a dialog box saying that as part of the procedure, the D100 would be restarted, and may be blank for 10 seconds, and that I may get a warning. Well, sure as nuts, the D100 turned off, but didn't come back on after 10 seconds. Warning dialog box saying communications had been lost popped up on the laptop.

So I waited about a minute, just in case, then turned on the D100 again. It booted up, then a warning came up saying "Internal Error: Send for Service". Great!

Since a return for service will take about a month in shipping time and will cost an arm and a leg from this end of the world (I'm on the Dark Continent), I decided to give the upgrade another shot.

It continued from about half-way through (This is an AWESOME feature - well done guys ), and again didn't come alive during the reset. Tried yet again, but this time tried to turn the D100 back on manually just after it had turned off. Nothing seemed to work, and each time, a dialog box came up saying "Comminucation Failed: Connection Lost" or something to that effect.

Then I noticed that the ground wire to the battery had come adrift, so there was no external power! Oops... Hooked that back up, and did the upgrade again, with no errors whatsoever.

Poked around, modified the new settings to get it to look all spiffy, and everything seems to be working! I'm not flying IF on it, so I can afford to trust that all is well, and if there's a problem can sort it out on the ground!

That's my tale! Make sure it's powered externally before doing the upgrade, as the instructions suggest :