ORIGINAL: Scott Smith
ORIGINAL: klhoard
If telemetry data is fed back to the pilot, then the PILOT has to process the data and make corrections - that should be OK. However, if the data processing is taking place inside the airplane and the airplane is electronically making corrections then that should NOTbe OK.
So you're saying an audible tone when wings are level would be okay?
If processing is taking place inside the airplane...is it still "telemetry"? Event, sensor, respond (onboard)....that's a servo, speed controller and fuel regulator!
My thought was if a telemetry function can be turned off, it must be turned off. If it can't be disabled, then it's okay.
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I was giving my opinion of where I think these rules should be moving towards, NOTinterpreting how they are written now. . .
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(Keith's Opinion >
As long as the attitude sensor data in the airplane is fed down to the pilot, and then the PILOThas to interpret that data and make the flight control corrections, it shouldn't matter what form that data is presented. Audio, video, number, whatever. Now if that sensor is being used to make flight control corrections WITHOUT processing thru the pilot, then that should NOTbe allowed.
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While servos, speed controllers, and fuel regulators AREclosed loop feedback devices, their commanded input from the outside world is from the pilot and the pilot alone. For example, take an aileron servo. You move the stick on your transmitter commanding a 15 degree down condition. The servo receives the signal from your transmitter, then compares its present position to that signal. If the two don't agree, then it sends power to the motor until its position matches the command from the pilot. <u>It then remains locked in that feedback loop until the PILOT commands another position - regardless of any other sensor input, only making corrections to return to the pilot commanded position.</u> The same can be said for ESC's and fuel regulators.
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My point was that as more and more sensors arrive and guys come up with more creative ways to use them this section of the rules will continue to expand and interpretations will be impossible. In fact, I believe guys will find that having multiple sensors in their airplane and trying to pay attention to them while flying a pattern flight will get very old very fast.
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So in one sentence, my opinion of where this rules section should go: Download all the sensor data you want; present it to the pilot in any form you want, just don't use it to automatically fly the airplane.
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