Autopilot & AHRS
Trim / Autopilot and AHRS for Experimental LSA and Ultralight Aircraft
What is it?
A simple to use trim and secondary control surface based autopilot and AHRS (utilizing UAV opensource components), with manual trim, wings-level stability, cruise control, navigation and return to home functions for LSA class experimental aircraft (non-TSO)
Total cost around $1,000
Featured in EAA Sport Aviation Magazine - October 2020
Functionality
Functionality and features:
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Integrated Manual Trim and Autopilot modes
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Touch screen buttons for all Autopilot functions
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Customized parameters based on typical cruise speed
Autopilot Modes:
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Stability: Wings level
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Cruise Control: Maintains altitude and heading
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Home: Acquires and turns onto home heading and altitude (shows distance to home)
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NAV: Connects to the QGroundControl app to execute missions on a mobile device
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Black-box: logs flight data for future analysis
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AHRS: displays GPS altitude (AMSL), ground speed, current heading, target heading, distance to home
Safety
The Autopilot is designed to control pitch and roll via secondary flight controls, allowing normal operation of primary flight controls solely by the pilot.
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Pitch uses elevator trim control surface
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Roll uses either secondary ailerons/flaperons or aileron trim control surfaces
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Maximum bank angle is customizable (typically 20 degrees)
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Many other customizable parameters
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Black box function stores flight data in standard file format for on-the-ground flight analysis and view on Google Earth
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Tested in real experimental aircraft and advanced flight simulators
Affordability
The Autopilot uses open source software and off-the-shelf hardware to keep the price down, including the use of standard high-torque PWM servos.
All components are very light weight
The Linux based Raspberry Pi is used as the supervisory computer and AHRS processor; this in turn controls the advanced, award winning Ardupilot UAV autopilot software running on the latest flight controller.
The trim controller (only required for manual trim option) uses a custom FPGA board (for fast PWM signal processing)
Since the Autopilot does not need access to the Pitot system, it can also be used as a mobile low cost / backup AHRS / black box system
Xflight Technologies
OUR STORY
Xflight Technologies is a Florida, USA based company. We have been designing aircraft systems for the radio controlled and general aviation markets for the last 8 years. Our engineers have a long history of design in the aerospace industry, and are also pilots and EAA members.
The autopilot is our latest offering for the LSA class experimental and ultralight markets (i.e. non TSO'd)
It was designed and tested using the latest flight simulation tools on a variety of GA aircraft and practically tested in the Hummel H5 experimental aircraft
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OUR VISION
Our vision is to provide simple to use, reliable and affordable solutions to the experimental and ultralight aviation markets by leveraging tried and tested, leading edge technologies from other fields (e.g. UAS/UAV, FPGA, mobile computing, etc.) as an alternative to the existing bespoke high priced aviation products.
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TECHNOLOGY
We use proven technologies from the UAV market and apply them to the experimental aircraft market.
The autopilot is built around the Raspberry Pi 3 micro computer with high luminousity IPS 3.5" or 5" touch screen and the latest UAV / Drone flight controller system running open source firmware.
The trim system uses one of the latest small footprint FPGA boards.
(We do not provide PWM high-torque servos, but these are available from many places and typically cost less than $100 each)
All components are very light weight, with a typical complete 2 servo system weighing less than 1 lb (0.5 kg) including servos. See servo selection guide.
SUPPORT
These products are individually assembled when ordered, and the Autopilot/AHRS products have a unique serial number linked to your name and email address so that we can provide support where needed. The most suitable parameters will be pre-configured based on your typical cruise speed. Once we have assembled your product we will do a thorough test to make sure everything is correctly setup and calibrated prior to your installation and tuning to your own air-frame. Our objective is to ensure your product is properly installed and working and we will be happy to provide telephone support as required.
Solution Options
Note: All options EXCLUDE servos and physical switches as these will vary depending on application (all autopilot functions are controlled with the touch screen buttons)
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Autopilot / AHRS + Trim Controller
$ 749
Included:
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Raspberry Pi 3 + SD card Autopilot software + 5V power supply
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IPS 3.5" or 5" Touch screen, HDMI connector and case
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UAV Flight Controller running Ardupilot
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External GPS/Compass
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USB link cable (Raspberry Pi to Flight Controller )
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Manual Trim Controller - FPGA logic board for pitch & roll
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Cables for Trim Controller to Raspberry Pi connection
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Parameter customization, calibration and full integration QA test + support
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Flight logging
Excluded:
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Trim switches / PWM Servos
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Servo differential drivers
$ 649
Autopilot / AHRS
Included:
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Raspberry Pi 3 + SD card Autopilot software + 5V power supply
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IPS 3.5" or 5" Touch screen, HDMI connector and case
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UAV Flight Controller running Ardupilot
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External GPS/Compass
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USB link cable (Raspberry Pi to Flight Controller )
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Parameter customization, calibration and full integration QA test + support
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Flight logging
Excluded:
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Manual Trim Controller
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Trim switches / PWM Servos
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Servo differential drivers
$ 399
AHRS Only
​​Includes ground speed, altitude & vector/distance to Home location as well as flight logging (viewable on Google Earth)
Included:
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Raspberry Pi 3 + SD card AHRS software + 5V power supply
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IPS 3.5" or 5" Touch screen, HDMI connector and case
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UAV Flight Controller running Ardupilot
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External GPS/Compass
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USB link cable (Raspberry Pi to Flight Controller)
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Flight logging
Excluded:
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Autopilot software
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Manual Trim Controller
$ 249
Trim Controller Only
Manual trim for pitch and roll (typically via yoke trim switches)
Included:
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Manual Trim Controller - FPGA logic board for pitch & roll
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5V power supply
Excluded:
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Autopilot / AHRS hardware/software
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Trim Switches
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PWM Servos / differential drivers
Servo Differential Drivers
$ 69
Differential drivers are required to reduce noise pickup. Servo over-voltage (lightning) protection is also included.
Included:
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One set of differential drivers (Tx and Rx) for one PWM servo (incl. over-voltage protection)
Excluded:
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All Autopilot sub-systems
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All Servo/Trim sub-systems
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PWM servos