"Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired" wrote in message
news:wtJWd.24485

In any event all the systems had a ton of engineering and flight testing
before being accepted for service.

Dan

I agree 100% that any amateur designed auto pilot would be a risky
proposition. That's one reason I'm still in the parts accumulation stage 2
years after I started thinking about it. The part I'm having the most
trouble finding is a couple of big brass BALLS ;^}

Control systems engineering is perhaps THE most feared course in any
undergrad EE program, and for good reason. It's not an easy subject.

Having said that, I think it can be done. My own precautions will include:


1) The servos are coupled to the controls with springs - easily overpowered
by the manual controls which are left in place. And of course a big red
"DISENGAGE" button on the stick.

2) Thorough testing using X-Plane simulator. I'll use a custom designed
interface between the autopilot and the simulator.. That's one reason I'd
want more than one person on the project - the simulator test "pilot" should
be independant of the designer.

3) All control equasions will be radically over-damped. No "Auto-Pilot
Induced Oscillations".

4) The pitch control will only be controlling the trim tab.