UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF

EGINEERING
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
Bachelor of Engineering ( Aerospace Engineering)
22AST-257 Aircraft Systems and Instruments

Unit 1 DISCOVER . LEARN . EMPOWER

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU
 22AST-257 Aircraft Systems and Instruments

Airplane Systems
And
Flight Control System

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

Autopilot System

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Autopilot System Introduction

• Autopilot systems in aircraft are sophisticated technological

systems designed to assist or entirely replace the human pilot in
controlling an aircraft.
• These systems are crucial for improving flight safety, fuel
efficiency, and overall operational efficiency. Here are some key
aspects of autopilot systems in aircraft:

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Autopilot System Introduction
1.Basic Functions:
1. Heading Hold: Maintains a specific compass direction.
2. Altitude Hold: Maintains a preset altitude.
3. Speed Hold: Maintains a specific airspeed.
2.Navigation and Guidance:
1. Navigation Modes: Autopilots can follow pre-programmed flight plans
using waypoints and GPS navigation.
2. ILS (Instrument Landing System): Helps the aircraft align with the
runway during approach and landing.
3. RNAV (Area Navigation): Allows the aircraft to follow a defined route
with great precision.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Autopilot System Introduction
3. Vertical Navigation:
1. Vertical Speed Hold: Maintains a specific rate of climb or descent.
2. Flight Level Change (FLC): Maintains a specified airspeed while
climbing or descending.
4. Autothrottle Systems:
1. Automatic Thrust Management: Adjusts engine thrust to maintain a
specific speed or power setting.
5. Flight Envelope Protection:
1. Bank Angle Limitations: Prevents the aircraft from exceeding safe
bank angles.
2. Pitch Attitude Protection: Limits the aircraft's pitch attitude to avoid
stalling or overspeeding.
By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU
 Autopilot System Introduction
6. Integration with Avionics Systems:
1. Autopilots are often integrated with other avionics systems, including
navigation systems, air data computers, and flight control systems.
7. Redundancy and Fail-Safes:
1. Autopilot systems typically have redundant components to ensure
reliability.
2. They are equipped with fail-safe mechanisms to revert control to the
human pilot if the system encounters a critical failure.
8. Modes of Operation:
1. Autopilots can operate in various modes, such as Heading Mode,
Altitude Mode, Vertical Speed Mode, and Approach Mode.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Autopilot System Introduction
9. Human-Machine Interface (HMI):
1. Pilots interact with autopilot systems through the cockpit controls and
displays.
2. The autopilot control panel allows pilots to select modes, set
parameters, and monitor system status.
10. Automation Levels:
1. Autopilots vary in their levels of automation, ranging from simple
systems that assist the pilot to more advanced systems capable of fully
autonomous flight in certain phases.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Autopilot System Introduction
• It's important to note that while autopilot systems can handle routine tasks
and provide assistance, human pilots remain essential for decision-making,
handling emergencies, and ensuring the safety of the flight.
• Autopilots are most commonly used during cruise phases of flight, but they
can also play a significant role during takeoff, climb, descent, and landing
under certain conditions.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

Autopilot Controller

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Autopilot System History
• The history of autopilot systems in aircraft dates back to the early 20th
century. The development of autopilots has been a gradual process,
with various technological advancements and innovations over the
years.
• Here is a brief overview of the key milestones in the history of
autopilot systems:
1.Lawrence Sperry's Gyroscopic Autopilot (1912):
1.Lawrence Sperry, an American inventor and aviator, is credited
with the invention of the first practical autopilot system.
2.In 1912, he developed a gyroscopic stabilizer that could
automatically maintain an aircraft's desired attitude.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Autopilot System History
2. Sperry Corporation's Automatic Stability System (1930s):
1.The Sperry Corporation, founded by Lawrence Sperry's father
Elmer Sperry, continued to refine and develop autopilot
technology.
2.The Automatic Stability System, introduced in the 1930s, used
gyroscopes to stabilize the aircraft in pitch and roll.
3. World War II Advancements (1939-1945):
1.Autopilot systems played a crucial role in military aircraft during
World War II, assisting pilots in long-duration flights and freeing
them to focus on navigation and combat.
2.Advances during this period included more sophisticated
gyroscopic systems.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Autopilot System History
4. Post-War Commercial Aviation (1945-1960s):
1.Autopilot systems became more common in commercial aviation
after World War II.
2.These systems were initially used for maintaining heading and
altitude but evolved to include more advanced features.
5. Inertial Navigation Systems (1960s):
1.Inertial navigation systems, which use accelerometers and
gyroscopes to calculate an aircraft's position, became integrated
with autopilots.
2.This technology significantly improved navigation accuracy.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Autopilot System History
6. Flight Management Systems (1970s-1980s):
1.The introduction of Flight Management Systems (FMS) allowed
for more sophisticated autopilot capabilities.
2.FMS integrated navigation, autopilot, and other avionics systems,
enabling aircraft to follow predefined routes.
7. Digital Avionics and Fly-by-Wire (1980s-1990s):
1.The shift to digital avionics and fly-by-wire technology marked a
significant leap in autopilot capabilities.
2.Fly-by-wire systems allowed for greater control precision and
automation.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Autopilot System History
1.Advanced Avionics and Full Authority Digital Engine Control
(FADEC) (2000s-Present):
1.Autopilot systems continued to advance with the integration of
advanced avionics, including improved navigation systems and full
authority digital engine control.
2.Autopilots in modern aircraft can handle various flight phases and are
an integral part of the overall flight control system.
• Throughout this history, autopilot systems have evolved from basic
gyroscopic stabilizers to sophisticated, computer-controlled systems
capable of managing various aspects of flight.
• Today, autopilots contribute to the safety, efficiency, and precision of air
travel, playing a crucial role in both commercial and military aviation.
By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU
Autopilot System

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU
 Autopilot System

• Let’s consider the example of a pilot who has activated a single-

axis autopilot — the so-called wing leveler we mentioned earlier.
By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU
 Autopilot System Operations

• 1. The pilot sets a control mode to maintain the wings in a level

position.
• 2. However, even in the smoothest air, a wing will eventually dip.
• 3. Position sensors on the wing detect this deflection and send a
signal to the autopilot computer.
• 4. The autopilot computer processes the input data and determines
that the wings are no longer level.
• 5. The autopilot computer sends a signal to the servos that control
the aircraft’s ailerons. The signal is a very specific command
telling the servo to make a precise adjustment.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Autopilot System Operations

• a) Each servo has a small electric motor fitted with a slip clutch
that, through a bridle cable, grips the aileron cable. When the
cable moves, the control surfaces move accordingly.
• b) As the ailerons are adjusted based on the input data, the wings
move back toward level.
• c) The autopilot computer removes the command when the
position sensor on the wing detects that the wings are once again
level.
• d) The servos cease to apply pressure on the aileron cables.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Autopilot System Operations

• This loop, shown above in the block diagram, works continuously, many
times a second, much more quickly and smoothly than a human pilot could.
• Two- and three-axis autopilots obey the same principles, employing
multiple processors that control multiple surfaces. Some airplanes even
have auto thrust computers to control engine thrust. Autopilot and auto
thrust systems can work together to perform very complex maneuvers.
By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU
 Autopilot Failure
• Autopilots can and do fail. A common problem is some kind of
servo failure, either because of a bad motor or a bad connection.
• A position sensor can also fail, resulting in a loss of input data to
the autopilot computer.
• Fortunately, autopilots for manned aircraft are designed as a
failsafe — that is, no failure in the automatic pilot can prevent
effective employment of manual override.
• To override the autopilot, a crew member simply has to disengage
the system, either by flipping a power switch or, if that doesn’t
work, by pulling the autopilot circuit breaker.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Autopilot Failure
• Some airplane crashes have been blamed on situations where
pilots have failed to disengage the automatic flight control
system.
• The pilots end up fighting the settings that the autopilot is
administering; unable to figure out why the plane won’t do what
they’re asking it to do.
• This is why flight instruction programs stress practicing for just
such a scenario.
• Pilots must know how to use every feature of an AFCS, but they
must also know how to turn it off and fly without it.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

Autopilot Failure

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Autopilot Failure

• They also have to adhere to a rigorous maintenance schedule to

make sure all sensors and servos are in good working order.
• Any adjustments or fixes in key systems may require that the
autopilot be tweaked.
• For example, a change made to gyro instruments will require
realignment of the settings in the autopilot’s computer.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Modern Autopilot Systems
• Many modern autopilots can receive data from a Global
Positioning System (GPS) receiver installed on the aircraft.
• A GPS receiver can determine airplane’s position in space by
calculating its distance from three or more satellites in the GPS
network.
• Armed with such positioning information, an autopilot can do
more than keep a plane straight and level — it can execute a
flight plan.
• Most commercial jets have had such capabilities for a while, but
even smaller planes are incorporating sophisticated autopilot
systems.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Modern Autopilot Systems

• New Cessna 182s and 206s are leaving the factory with the
Garmin G1000 integrated cockpit, which includes a digital
electronic autopilot combined with a flight director.
• The Garmin G1000 delivers essentially all the capabilities and
modes of a jet avionics system, bringing true automatic flight
control to a new generation of general aviation planes.
• Wiley Post could have only dreamed of such technology back in
1933.

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

 Text Books
Sr No Title of the Book Author Name Volume/Edition Publish Hours Years

1 Aircraft Systems Ian Moir and Allan Seabridge 2nd Edition PEP 2001

2 Aircraft Flight Instruments and Guidance David Wyatt 1st Edition Taylor and Francis 2015
systems

3 Civil Avionics Systems Ian Moir, Allan Seabridge and Second Edition Wiley 2013
Malcolm Jukes.

Reference Books
Sr No Title of the Book Author Name Volume/Edition Publish Hours Years

1 Aircraft Instruments – Principles and E. H. J. Pallett Second Edition Longman House 1981
Applications

2 General Hand Book of Airframe and Federal Aviation First English Book Store, 1995
Powerplant Mechanics Administration, New Delhi
U.S. Dept. of Tra
3 Automatic Flight Control E. H. J. Pallett and S. Coyle Fourth Edition Blackwell Science 1993
Ltd

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU

By: Er. Sukumar Dhanapalan/AP/CU