Helicopter Autopilot

[NRM]

Is there a way to make helicopters have an autopilot?

If there is how?

[Brian_Gladden]

Hovercontrol Bell 412 has one... Not sure how to make it work on another helo...

Brian

[Wing_Z]

Antti Pankkonen's Dauphin had an autopilot way back when.
I could never get it to accept more than one channel of authority, and never managed to transplant it.
I always hand fly helo's as a result; for precise hovering there is always

FS2004 (ACOF) - FS2004 Panels FS2004 Gauge--VTOL For Helicopters
[ Download (http://www.flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=112526) | View (http://www.flightsim.com/zview.php?cm=list&fid=112526) ]
Name: rcbhhc22.zip (http://www.flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=112526) Size: 36,276 Date: 06-05-2007 Downloads: 1,042
http://www.flightsim.com/m/rcbhhc22.gif FS2004 Gauge--VTOL For Helicopters. This package contains a VTOL control gauge for helicopters that works around some FS9 limitations and/or incorrect flight dynamics, which makes them sometimes hard to control, especially at low airspeed and when you have your realism sliders set above minimum. It provides smooth and stable VTOL capabilities, with pilot-controlled ascent/descent rate, longitudinal and lateral speed, heading, pitch and bank; works also in windy conditions; automatic activation below 25 Knots IAS, so does not influence the aircraft's flight characteristics in normal flight; adds an autohover/autopilot function. Requires prior installation of FSUIPC. By Rob Barendregt.

[johnh_049]

you can try this...

http://64.34.169.161/cgi-bin/ifolio/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Add-ons_-_Panels_and_Gauges_-_FS9


http://64.34.169.161/cgi-bin/ifolio/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Add-ons_-_Panels_and_Gauges_-_FSX

[NRM]

Any other Autopilots available?

[Motormouse]

Any other Autopilots available?

IIRC,No, Antti Pankonnen's is the only one, as for transplanting it,it can be done,but
it has to be used a a suite of gauges they are some how interlinked
in the coding

ttfn

Pete

[Grey_Wolf]

the gauges in John's links dont need any other gauges added, and have a Panel.cfg made up for the bell 206 already. as well as instructions on how to add to others.
I know the FSX version has key commands you can use with it, I believe the 2004 version has them as well. bit the key commands are a little diffrent than the Stock FS autopilot.
The autopilot is sophisticated enough you can start on ground, hold a hover and transition in to forward flight, back to a hover and land.

[monk1]

I use FSPilot. It turned into session limited shareware but the earlier versions were free. They might still be available at avsim.

http://81.169.129.72:8080/FSPilot/content/index_eng.html/

[tommieboy]

I use FSPilot. It turned into session limited shareware but the earlier versions were free. They might still be available at avsim.

http://81.169.129.72:8080/FSPilot/content/index_eng.html/

I use FSPilot too. Takes some getting use to, but worth it if you like to fly from the outside of the Helo at times when in flyby view like the one provided in Active Camera.

Tommy

[srgalahad]

An autopilot for a helicopter? Is that like an honest politician? No-name ketchup on prime rib?

Sure helicopters are hard to fly... that's the challenge isn't it? to build the skill to safely get it off the ground, meander about the sky and get back with the same number of parts as when you left - in the same locations. It's made worse by the limits of the flight dynamics of FS9 but it can be done, although doing it without rudder pedals is an invitation to the asylum, or the scrapyard.
:focus:
Rob

[NRM]

the only reason i want an autopilot for my helicopter is to recreate a flight to do in fs2004.

[johnh_049]

An autopilot for a helicopter? Is that like an honest politician? No-name ketchup on prime rib?

Sure helicopters are hard to fly... that's the challenge isn't it? to build the skill to safely get it off the ground, meander about the sky and get back with the same number of parts as when you left - in the same locations. It's made worse by the limits of the flight dynamics of FS9 but it can be done, although doing it without rudder pedals is an invitation to the asylum, or the scrapyard.
:focus:
Rob

But you know, a 2 hour flight in FS helis can lead to repetitive stress disorders or carpel tunnel syndrome...:173go1: a good a/p in a heli makes life so much easier. still have to have the skill to take off and land, but don't have to sit there trying to hold the stick in one place for the whole flight.

[NRM]

But you know, a 2 hour flight in FS helis can lead to repetitive stress disorders or carpel tunnel syndrome...:173go1: a good a/p in a heli makes life so much easier. still have to have the skill to take off and land, but don't have to sit there trying to hold the stick in one place for the whole flight.

Thats also why I want a good AP for my helicopeters.

[Astoroth]

if you have the Hovercontrol 412, you can use it on any helo. Just do this:

edit the panel.cfg file of the helo you want, and use this to add it as a seperate popup window:

Add this line to the [window titles] section
Window04=Auto Pilot <======make sure the number is one more than the last one in the list

Add this after the last window before the vc section:
[Window04] <========make sure this number matches the one above.
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=300,165
position=2
visible=0
ident=407
window_size= 0.300, 0.220
window_pos= 0.000, 0.000
gauge00=AS532_AFCP!AFCP, 0,0,300,118
gauge01=AS532_AFCP!Annunciator, 75,118,180,45

Then edit the aircraft.cfg file, and replace the autopilot section with this:

[autopilot]
default_bank_mode=0
default_pitch_mode=0
autopilot_available=1
flight_director_available=1
default_vertical_speed=500.00
autothrottle_available=1
pitch_takeoff_ga=0.000000
autothrottle_arming_required=1
autothrottle_takeoff_ga=0
autothrottle_max_rpm=90.000000
max_pitch=10.000000
max_pitch_acceleration=1.000000
max_pitch_velocity_lo_alt=2.000000
max_pitch_velocity_hi_alt=1.500000
max_pitch_velocity_lo_alt_breakpoint=20000.000000
max_pitch_velocity_hi_alt_breakpoint=28000.000000
max_bank=25.000000
max_bank_acceleration=1.800000
max_bank_velocity=3.000000
max_throttle_rate=0.100000
nav_proportional_control=9.000000
nav_integrator_control=0.250000
nav_derivative_control=0.000000
nav_integrator_boundary=2.500000
nav_derivative_boundary=0.000000
gs_proportional_control=9.520000
gs_integrator_control=0.260000
gs_derivative_control=0.000000
gs_integrator_boundary=0.700000
gs_derivative_boundary=0.000000
yaw_damper_gain=0.000000

Your helo should now have a working autopilot.

[Brian_Gladden]

An autopilot for a helicopter? Is that like an honest politician? No-name ketchup on prime rib?

Sure helicopters are hard to fly... that's the challenge isn't it? to build the skill to safely get it off the ground, meander about the sky and get back with the same number of parts as when you left - in the same locations. It's made worse by the limits of the flight dynamics of FS9 but it can be done, although doing it without rudder pedals is an invitation to the asylum, or the scrapyard.
:focus:
Rob


Many real life high end helicopters have Autopilots. Dauphin, EC-135, S-76 A-109, Bell 412 etc.


Brian

[Wing_Z]

Many real life high end helicopters have Autopilots. Dauphin, EC-135, S-76 A-109, Bell 412 etc.Brian
...R44 (!)
http://www.helisas.com/
Aargh the Instant Gratification Generation...

Thanks for the tip about transplanting Antti's autopilot, Astoroth. I have just the candidate for it.

[Brian_Gladden]

I recall at an airshow a few years back, there was a coast guard demo done using a Dolphin and a Jayhawk. the wind that day was 10 kts gusting to 25. as the two helo's picked up thier rescue swimers from the ground, the Jayhawk was all over the place as the pilots compensated for the wind.

The Dolphin with the auto hover engaged looked like it was welded at the end of the winch cable....


Brian

[Lionheart]

I recall at an airshow a few years back, there was a coast guard demo done using a Dolphin and a Jayhawk. the wind that day was 10 kts gusting to 25. as the two helo's picked up thier rescue swimers from the ground, the Jayhawk was all over the place as the pilots compensated for the wind.

The Dolphin with the auto hover engaged looked like it was welded at the end of the winch cable....


Brian


That is too cool!


:d