Fonctions de bases du EZ PILOT

Precise Navigation

Because the EZ Pilot uses GPS signals as its reference, it is capable of tracking the flight plan that you have entered into your GPS receiver very accurately. Typically, in smooth air, you will see cross track errors (XTK) of less than .02 miles (about 100 feet). This is significantly better than what was possible with older analog autopilots. With the EZ Pilot, you will often observe tracking between 0.00 and 0.01 miles of cross track error (between 0 and 50 feet). Turbulence can obviously have an adverse effect on this accuracy, but it will still track closely to the course centerline. Top

Solid State Gyro

Mechanical gyros have been a mainstay in aircraft instruments for years. However, they are now being strongly challenged by some very impressive solid state electronic gyros that are small enough to fit into a 1/4 inch cube. These gyros are highly responsive, accurate and not subject to the effects of mechanical wear and breakage of their mechanical ancestors. The new gyros are also different in that they do not obtain their attitude reference from gravity, but derive it from electronic signals from GPS receivers, electronic magnetic sensors or accelerometers. The EZ Pilot utilizes these new gyros to provide fast, accurate and reliable rate information. Top

Microprocessor Controlled

The microprocessor in the EZ Pilot is a powerful computer that executes millions of instructions each second. It analyzes information it receives from the gyro(s), GPS receiver and the pilot, and issues instructions to the servo to control the ailerons of the aircraft. The processor computes course error corrections, closure rates and appropriate intercept angles. It also monitors temperature changes to maintain gyro stability and provides the data that appears on the faceplate display. Because the microprocessor uses "flash" memory to contain its programming it can be updated when improvements or new features are available. Top

Digital Precision

The information that an autopilot receives from your GPS receiver is in a digital format that is specific and precise. The VOR and heading references commonly used by other autopilots are analog (a varying DC voltage) and are somewhat ambiguous about precise values so these autopilots work by trying to null the voltage to keep the needle centered and the aircraft on the course centerline. GPS provides digital bearing and tracking information that are not only accurate but precise in value. To utilize GPS, the older autopilots must convert the digital information into an analog voltage to drive the autopilot. The EZ Pilot does not require this step because the microprocessor directly interprets the digital values for aircraft guidance control. Top

Accurately Tracks GPS Flight Plan

Flying the EZ Pilot is as simple as entering a flight plan into your GPS receiver and pressing the "Servo" button. The autopilot does the rest. Using GPS signals from your receiver, the autopilot will typically track within .02 nm of course centerline in smooth air. This exceeds the capabilities of many "certified" autopilots when tracking a GPS flight plan. Top

Adjustable Course Tracking

Pressing the "Mode" button will sequence the autopilot from the track (TRK) mode to the course (CRS) mode. In the CRS mode the pilot selects a desired course using the L - R (left - right) switch and the autopilot will fly that course, using the GPS data to assure an accurate course over the ground. Desired course can be set to within 1 degree. Top

Unique "Intercept" mode

A unique feature offered by the EZ Pilot autopilot is it's ability to intercept a preprogrammed flight path. For instance, if you have disengaged the autopilot to manually fly the aircraft away from the courseline (perhaps at the request of ATC) you may simply push the MODE button to enter the Intercept (INT) mode, and then engage the servo. The aircraft will turn to a preprogrammed intercept angle (25 degrees is the default) and fly toward the courseline. When the aircraft reaches approximately .5 miles from the centerline (distance varies with aircraft speed), the autopilot will automatically switch to the Track (TRK) mode and turn smoothly onto the courseline. Top

Remote Auxiliary Servo Disconnect

When flying with the autopilot engaged the pilot may disengage the servo by momentarily pressing a remote "servo disconnect" switch located on the control stick or control wheel. This will free the controls for manually flying the aircraft. The "Servo" button on the instrument faceplate will also disengage the servo when pressed.. Top

Selectable GPS Data Display

All bearing-to-waypoint and track information is constantly displayed for pilot reference. A convenient "Display" button on the instrument faceplate also allows the pilot to sequentially review a turn coordinator, distance to waypoint, estimated time to waypoint, waypoint identifier, crosstrack error, groundspeed and Track Offset Position (TOP) on the bottom right-hand portion of the display. Top

Works with Portable or Panel Mount GPS

You might assume that all GPS receivers provide identical data stream outputs. This is unfortunately not the case. Most panel mount GPS receivers provide a data stream output often referred to as an AVLINK data output and most handheld GPS receivers output a data stream that conforms to the NMEA 0183 standard. Even with these two standards as reference many GPS receivers do not conform exactly to the specifications, but alter the data stream for various reasons. The EZ Pilot microprocessor analyzes the data stream to determine if it is an AVLINK or NMEA format, and then configures the autopilot to accept the data. It also has special code to recognize a number of receivers that do not adhere strictly to the standards, and it will further adjust the autopilot to accept those it recognizes. A list of the currently acceptable receivers may be obtained by contacting the factory using the "Contact" section of this web site.
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Bright PLED or Backlit LCD Display

Trying to read the LCD (liquid crystal display) screen on most handheld and many panel mounted GPS receivers can be difficult in poor lighting conditions. The EZ Pilot overcomes this difficulty by providing a bright Polymer Light Emitting Diode (PLED) display to present information to the pilot. Because this display is higher contrast than the old VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display) this is the optimum solution in a majority of applications. In aircraft that experience a lot of direct sunlight on their instrument panels, an LCD option (backlit for night operation) is also available. Top

Control Head Weighs Less than 8 ounces and Servo Weighs only 24 ounces

Because the weight of the MEMS gyro is just a few grams, the total weight of the autopilot control head is greatly reduced. Top