Re: S-Tec 50 Autopilot

[dmp@TmedBSD.MCG.EDU]

> From:          "James F. Agnew" <RRT0162@IBM.NET>

> Brian, something to think about, on my sail boat I had an autopilot that
> used an analog computer with a flux gate sensor for heading
> information.  This system used a feedback loop from the "rudder" so it

There's also a compass module from Precision Navigation that doesn't 
use a flux gate. Two degree accuracy, one degree resolution, can 
calibrate out magnetic fields, serial, 5 per second output. 
$100 for the gimbaled version, $80 for the non-gimbaled from Jameco.

Jameco is also carrying the Crossbow accelerometer modules.

---
David Parrish



> could tell how much it was using to turn.  It used the rate of change
> from the sensor to determine how much and how fast to to move the rudder
> and used a variable speed (pulse width modulation) electric motor to
> move the rudder.  Because of this setup it could react quickly to large
> movements and back off as it came to center so it wouldn't overshoot. 
> It also looked at the number of corrections in the same direction and
> after several would find a new centering heading to set a crab to offset
> drift.  Something to think about in your design.  You can now buy Flux
> Gate sensor black boxes with several types of output, I don't have the
> address but I could find it.
> 
> Jim
> 
> PS - this unit was for a 9 ton boat and had a 1250 pound thrust
> hydraulic ram so it is probably is a litle heavy duty for aircraft
> use!!  (:>)
> -- 
> //------10--------20--------30--------40--------50--------60--------70--------80
> // James F. Agnew
> // Tampa, FL
> // Velocity 173 FG Elite ( http://www.VelocityAircraft.com/ ) under
> construction
> 
>