Autopilot Rolls Into Turns Like A Fighter Pilot

[Dynon101]

Well it seems that we are on the right track.

I looked a the revision list in the V 16.2.4 list and it says nothing about any autopilot related "fixes". The revision did list "Updated:SkyView Magnetic Model updated for 2020" but I would think that would not affect the flight director navigation autopilot once it has already been tracking a route.

What I should have done but did not think about it would be to watch the flight director and see if, when getting to the waypoint if the command bars snap to the hard right/left and then the autopilot system rapidly follows

When I get time I will go in my user settings for this last flight and so a spreadsheet ala steve m and record what is in there now and then revert back to the user settings that were in there prior and see if there was any autopilot settings changed during the revision.


I sent an email to tech support and asked about the new revision and asked them to respond on the forum so everyone can learn.

THANKS JD and Steve for the advice.

 

[djones]

I have not heard of anything that changed with regards to auto pilot in V16.2.4, but I will look into it.
I will report back if I learn anything.

 

[Dynon101]

THANKS Don!!!

 

[jcarne]

THANKS Don!!!

Keep us posted here, I have the exact same symptoms after updating a few days ago. Your fighter pilot analogy is spot on! Haha I even get roll slip on my setup.

Don I’ll send you the setting requested on the other thread but can’t get to it for a week or so.

 

[Dynon101]

Don Jones said >
I have not heard of anything that changed with regards to auto pilot in V16.2.4, but I will look into it.
I will report back if I learn anything.

Don did you happen to come up with anything?

With my system I had not changed anything regarding any system parameters except uploading the new revision of the software and again today whilst droning along (half-asleep) I get to a course change of about 25 degrees and the little autopilot girl just cranks and banks the airplane around so quickly that it was startling...

It would be interesting to see what had changed in the new revision...

 

[djones]

Don Jones said >
I have not heard of anything that changed with regards to auto pilot in V16.2.4, but I will look into it.
I will report back if I learn anything.

Don did you happen to come up with anything?

With my system I had not changed anything regarding any system parameters except uploading the new revision of the software and again today whilst droning along (half-asleep) I get to a course change of about 25 degrees and the little autopilot girl just cranks and banks the airplane around so quickly that it was startling...

It would be interesting to see what had changed in the new revision...

Engineering claims nothing was changed with the autopilot in 16.2.4, still looking into it as perhaps it is a result of some other change.
Unintended consequences and all that.....

 

[RV8JD]

Engineering claims nothing was changed with the autopilot in 16.2.4, still looking into it as perhaps it is a result of some other change.
Unintended consequences and all that.....

Changes to the servos maybe? I have the SV-32s for reference. Something appears to have changed.

 

[djones]

I could use diagnostic files from you guys with this issue. Engineering wants to look into it.

 

[RV8JD]

I could use diagnostic files from you guys with this issue. Engineering wants to look into it.

Don,

I downgraded from v16.2.4 back to v16.0.8 (because of the Tach Time issue with v16.2.4), so I can’t get a Diagnostic File with v16.2.4 for you.

Sorry I couldn’t help this time.

 

[jnmeade]

My airplane exhibits no difference in turn behaviour with the upgrade.

 

[RV8JD]

I wonder if it is a function of speed then. I experienced the aggressive AP roll-in at cruise speeds (~155 to 165 KIAS) with my RV-8 with v16.2.4. The characteristic may be amplified at higher speeds. I did not experiment with the AP at lower speeds (and can't now that I downgraded back to v16.0.8).

Both "Dynon101" and "steve m" are flying RV-10s (I think), and "steve m" mentioned that he was flying at ~160 KIAS also.

I think "jnmeade" is flying an RV-12.

 

[mitchw62]

I guess I expected the autopilot to select maximum bank based on standard rate turn. So we ended up reducing max bank to about 16 degrees for a c172. I would rather let it adjust bank for standard rate based on airspeed. But I'm happy with what we got.

 

[Solana]

I could use diagnostic files from you guys with this issue. Engineering wants to look into it.

I also have the abrupt roll behavior. It started with the upload of the new software and I have not noticed. Any other differences. The initiation of the roll is very abrupt, but then the roll rate settles down. I will try to send diagnostic files this week.

 

[Solana]

I also have the abrupt roll behavior. It started with the upload of the new software and I have not noticed. Any other differences. The initiation of the roll is very abrupt, but then the roll rate settles down. I will try to send diagnostic files this week.

The diagnostic files have been uploaded!

Rick Solana
RV10

 

[Dynon101]

I uploaded the diagnostic files as well

 

[jcarne]

Sent mine as well. Hopefully this was the correct link.

https://www.dynonavionics.com/contact.php

 

[RV8JD]

Sent mine as well. Hopefully this was the correct link.

https://www.dynonavionics.com/contact.php

I think the link below is the correct one for diagnostic file uploads:

Dynon Avionics | Uploading diagnostic data datalogs

Uploading diagnostic data datalogs to Dynon Avionics

www.dynonavionics.com

 

[Solana]

I did some ground testing, and in heading mode when the heading bug was centered and then moved off center the stick would quickly jerk. Then if the bug was moved further the stick would jerk again.

in flight the stick would jerk when the bug was moved off center, but when moved a second time withe plane established in the turn there was no further jerking.

 

[Rhino]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the autopilot shouldn't function on the ground. I thought there was a minimum airspeed that must be reached for the autopilot to activate. Or maybe that was the flight director...... Gotta break out the books again.

 

[Solana]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the autopilot shouldn't function on the ground. I thought there was a minimum airspeed that must be reached for the autopilot to activate. Or maybe that was the flight director...... Gotta break out the books again.

You are correct that you cannot set the autopilot before takeoff for a flight. It will basically clear your commands at takeoff. Nonetheless, you can operate the autopilot, which you would want to do as a pre-flight check that it is functioning properly.