this post was submitted on 28 Apr 2024
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[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

The term autopilot comes from aviation, where the only kind of problem resolution an autopilot does is turning itself off.

Other than that, it just flies from checkpoint to checkpoint.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

If only we could implement similar testing protocols to the aviation version to validate it's safety!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

A full NTSB investigation for every single crash? I'm all for it!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Depends on the autopilot. There are some that are as rudimentary as a "wing leveler." They only have control of the ailerons and can level the wings and maybe make turns. Other systems have control of all three major control axes and are integrated with the navigation systems so they can do things like climb to an altitude and level off, turn to a heading, or even fly holds and approaches.

They do require training on the part of the pilot to use in flight.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, but even the best ones would happily crash into a mountain if the pilots don't set their altimeters properly (and ignore the terrain warnings).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Are you sure that it is happy? Maybe the autopilot is really sad about its inability to not fly into a mountain.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

Hard to say, it might depend on the plane model. I've heard that Boeing 777s autopilots are really snarky.