Autopilot Question

Greg, Malcolm or Barry-

Nice job on the new autopilot picture and the new EFIS/Lite page...the pages look great!

Here's my question....should be an easy one...

For those of us planning on using EFIS/One with the EFIS/Lite as a backup, is it going to be possible to select which box controls the autopilot? This would obviously be a good feature, ie. to have redundancy in controlling the autopilot if EFIS/One should not be operational for some reason...So is it possible?

Thanks!

PS...I apologize if this queation has already been covered elsewhere!

Brian,
Great question! I had wondered if this had been thought through yet. The interface is ethernet, so all that should be required from a hardware standpoint is a small hub or switch. Software and setup is probably another matter. I have wondered if I could install a small hub or switch for convenience in loading software anyway. It seems that I have seen some messages on the subject in this group, but don't remember where.
Scott

Scott is right. Since the EFIS/One and the EFIS/Lite have different IP addresses, one of those small desktop hubs should work fine. You'll just need to use normal ethernet cables instead of the crossover cable that comes with the autopilot controller, since the hub will take care of that. 3 ethernet cables and you're set.

Barry,
Just to make sure I understand your reply, are you saying that the autopilot controller will talk to whichever EFIS (E1 or Lite) that has its autopilot software turned on and that the change could be made inflight and without rebooting? So from a pilots point of view, switching the autopilot control from E1 to Lite is only a matter of turning the autopilot software off on the E1 and turning on the autopilot software on the Lite? The controller will automatically switch and work with whichever EFIS is sending autopilot commands? What happens if both EFIS boxes have the autopilot software turned on at the same time?
Best regards,
Scott

We have not tested this, so I'll have to try it out and get back to you. The way I understand ethernet a reboot won't be necessary, but if both units have the autopilot engaged that would be a problem. I'll try to get this tested today and get back to you.

Here's how it works: The EFIS/One or Lite listens for traffic before commanding the AP. If there is already a machine online running the autopilot, the box doing the listening will not engage. If there is no traffic, it will. This means you can bus them all together and engage whichever one you like. Works a treat!

Now that's cool! Can't wait to fly it...

Reading all these wonderfull comments on autopilot heps me to support the waiting time. Mine is install and ready to work. It only needs the software update to work. When should we receive it? Can you give you best delivery date.

Glasair

Greg, in response to what you said Dec 11 - does this mean that it will work as described for non-BMA equipment too, like the CNX80 I plan to also have in addition to my EFIS/One?

For Anon, the AP is complete pending final flight test of some of the vertical features. Since these involve complex energy management issues and some of our planes are pitch sensitive, I'm being a little cautious abt releasing it. We were going to fly the time this weekend, but you can see on the WX Channel we didn't get to. We'll wrap up the test after Christmas, most likely.

Brian, the CNX80 is just anther input to the EFIS and does not command the AP directly, so I'm not sure what you mean there. The 11-Dec note was about 2 BMA products commanding the same BMA Autopilot. If there's a CNX80 in the mix feeding one of the BMA products, that's fine. No change.

Kinda guessing here, hope that helped!