PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Future rotorcraft control systems
View Single Post
Old 4th Jun 2005, 19:21
  #10 (permalink)  
Matthew Parsons
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: KPHL
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you look at the evolution of FADEC, you'll see the future in helo flight controls. Hydromechanical monsters were simplified with electronics. Then electronics were used to do the pilots work on the manual controls, allowing the pilot to overide as required. Eventually the manual controls were dropped and the FADEC is the only thing that can control fuel systems.

I think the scenario that drakkar mentioned is really just limited by what level of over-ride the pilot is comfortable with. Once we believe that FBW is more reliable than mechanical (augmented or not) then the manufacturers will be able to offer unstable aircraft that the computer can fly.

I'm looking forward to that day.

Matthew.
Matthew Parsons is offline