One last area: Collective control.
The theme of this thread is: to design a cost effective control system for a light helicopter, reducing pilot workload, and thus time required to master that machine. The contention is that a system based on the Lockheed CL475 stability gyro, being entirely mechanical with no active components, is well suited to the task. For helicopters already requiring power assist, an electic servo system with gyro control is well suited (along with the additional cost/complexity involved).
On area not yet covered is collective control for auto-rotation. The only method i can think of is the addition of an electric servo to correct collective position for RRPM errors. Since engine normally supplies required power, and is auto throttled in an R22, this system would normally not detect a need for collective correction. If activated the pilot would easilly be able to overpower the servo, in the same way that he can overpower the throttle. Light and horn could be part of the same system. The pilot would detect a mild resistance to flaring, which would only serve to remind him/her that the RRPM was reducing.
Does anyone feel that these conclusions would result in a machine that was easier to fly, and therefore less likely to suffer incident?
Mart