Flight 3

5. Autopilot plus Imagery plus Autonomous Landing

Configuration:Imagery plus autonomous landing. See checklist for details. Autonomous Landing is the priority

Land if as soon as possible if engine run time reaches 18 min.

Note: Airspeed and altitude calls in English units (feet)

Note: Pilot has discretionary control over autopilot engagement. He has the ultimate authority to ‘click out’ under any circumstance. The pilot is responsible for ensuring the aircraft does not crash into terrain or leave prescribed operations area under autopilot control.

Test Cards

  1. External Pilot perform startup (checklist #1)
  2. Engine Start
  3. Controls Check
  1. Flight Director: verify Piccolo is transmitting data
  1. Flight Director: confirms Altimeter setting and zero air data sensors.
  1. Flight Director: verify Flight Computer transmitting data, camera operational
  1. External Pilot: Takeoff, climb to 650’ MSL (300’ AGL) and begin standard pattern
  1. Flight Director: verify nominal Piccolo operation <Autopilot Check>

Autopilot Nominal: Continue to 7

Hold: External Pilot maintain Standard Pattern

  1. Flight Director verify nominal Imagery operation <Imagery Check>

Autonomous Flight

  1. Flight Director: authorize transition to autonomous mode
  2. External Pilot engages the autopilot when the aircraft is in line with the centerline at 300 feet AGL
  1. Flight Director: verify nominal autopilot transition
  2. If transition fails, External Pilot resumes control and begins standard pattern
  3. If transition is successful, continue to Autonomous Test 1

Autonomous Test 3-Imagery Pattern at 650 ft MSL (300 ft AGL)

  1. Piccolo operator proceeds with imagery task 1: Imagery pattern at 650 ft MSL
  1. Flight Director: notify External Pilot of test: “Click in when the aircraft is at 650 ft MSL and aligned with the runway center line. The autopilot will fly the imagery pattern as shown in the diagram. Unless told otherwise, disengage the autopilot after the aircraft complete 2 passes.
  1. Flight Director: verify nominal imagery system operation during the pattern
  1. Flight Director: verify test nominal
  1. If nominal, continue to Autonomous Test 3
  2. If abnormal, instruct External Pilot to maintain a standard pattern

Autonomous Landing (checklist #2)

  1. Flight Director: Confer with ground station coordinator to ensure all necessary tests are complete
  2. If tests complete, proceed to 2
  3. If test incomplete, hold
  4. Flight Director: Verify Nominal Piccolo Operation
  5. Nominal, continue to 3
  6. Hold: Authorize manual landing after 18 minutes of engine run time
  7. Flight Director: Verify airspace and runway are clear
  8. Flight Director: Authorize autonomous landing
  9. Autopilot Operator: Send aircraft into landing pattern
  10. External Pilot: Monitor Landing
  11. Nominal, continue to 7
  12. Abort if:
  13. Aircraft is below glide slope and cannot make the field if the engine dies
  14. If aircraft is not in-line with the runway centerline
  15. If aircraft does not flare at proper altitude
  16. External Pilot: Take control of aircraft after touchdown