Auotpilot operation suggestion

[madb1rd]

To Dynon Support, although feel free to weigh in anyone else:

The AP function features seem to be designed primarily around not having the add on AP panel. As such there are a few features that require additional button pushes which are not necessary if one has an AP panel and Dynon were to make a small change.

The scenario is this: flying, AP servos off, FD in any state. User needs to turn on AP and steer current heading. This can be done with CWS but requires additional rotary knob inputs to get to that bug (HDG or TRK).

What should be available is: User holds down HDG or TRK for two seconds (on AP panel) and two things happen - the respective bug is set to current heading and the left rotary knob is set to the respective bug. Then the user pushes AP on panel activating the respective bug and VS 0 with servos on. Or the button sequence could be reversed, go to AP roll=0 VS=0 servos active, then hold down the HDG or TRK to get the bug set to current and active on the rotary knob.

The idea here is I should be able to quickly get the autopilot active with the bug knob set active to HDG or TRK in one or two button pushes.

While CWS does only part of this it sets one up for two things. First, with a sensitive stick you may be introducing unwanted VS. Second, the idea is to quickly go to not holding the stick. And I'm not saying get rid of the CWS, keep both options.

It is also not uncommon to be somewhere in the system's menu and suddenly you get a vector change request. "N1234d" change heading to 245" One should be able to hold down the HDG for two seconds regardless of what is going on to then be able to use the rotary knob for steering to the new heading. This is in part because using the rotary knob to select what is active is "hit or miss" when in moderate to heavy turbulence.

Now, if it can already do this I'm not finding it in the manual or by trial and nada.

 

[rfazio1951]

I like what you are suggesting. If I understand correctly, you mean you can hold the track or heading button in for two seconds and the not only will the auto pilot change to track or heading, but, it will set the bug to the heading you are on. Now, if I hit the track button while following GPS, and the track bug is 180 degrees from where I am heading the plane wants to start turning, and I am frantically trying to turn the bug to the proper setting. Is that what you are saying?

 

[dynonsupport]

Generically, the way you continue going the way you are pointed is with the ROLL HOLD mode. Just reach up and press "AP". The AP will turn on and will hold you current roll angle and vertical speed. If your roll angle is below 5 degrees, it holds zero, thus keeping you going in your current direction. While this doesn't hold a specific track or heading, it does stabilize the plane and give you quite a bit of time to get everything else dialed in the way you want.

This is actually much more inline with your use case where given a specific heading. Turn on ROLL HOLD, then spin your heading to the one assigned, then press HDG and it will make a controlled turn to the new heading.

Also, are you aware that pressing and holding the knob assigned to HDG/TRK will sync it?

 

[rfazio1951]

What happens if the auto pilot is already on and in GPS mode, for example, and you hit the track or heading button? I think it switches mode and heads to where ever the roll bug happens to be.

 

[krw5927]

If the AP is already on and following GPS guidance, and you want to switch it to follow heading, first push and hold the heading knob for 2 seconds to sync your current heading, then activate heading AP mode.

Alternatively, turn the heading bug to the heading you want, then activate heading AP mode.  The airplane will turn you right to your desired heading.

 

[madb1rd]

Yes, all of these are good options. The issue is reducing button strokes. I did figure out the part about holding the rotary knob to reset. Part of the problem there though is holding it down like that in hard turbulence without activating something else is a challenge. Hence using the fix button on the AP panel would produce more consistent results. HDG or TRK for two seconds, AP and you are locked and loaded to rotate the knob to any heading.