Autopilot = very frustrating at times!!

[Raven_Morpheus]

Hello

 

Just started flying the UH-1H, and dear god is it difficult compared to the Ka-50 with the "autopilot" on (does the Ka-50 in real life really have that good an "autopilot" system?).

 

Anyway, I've been trying to do the mountain rescue mission and every now and then I switch on the autopilot for level flight to save me having to do all the work and so that I can see what he's doing on the control input indicator and trim my controls to roughly the point he's got his at.

 

Every so often I take control (basically when I think it's safe for me to do so) but then when I put the autopilot back on...

 

...he thinks he's a stunt pilot and tries to do a loop the loop - which then causes the main rotor to break off!!

 

Has anyone else come across?

[Cibit]

I use the auto pilot very infrequently unless using the various weapon stations. When I did use it I always try to get level flight before turning on. This reduces the amount of "reaction" when engaging it. Are you using 1.2.7 OB or 1.2.6v3? Can you possibly provide a short track too

:)

[Raven_Morpheus]

I'm using what ever the build is that comes with the current download (1.2.6 as far as I know).

 

I'm only using the autopilot because it's taking me a while to adjust to learning how to fly the UH-1H and I'm not all that good.

 

I was fairly level when it happened though, which is why it seemed very very odd behaviour.

 

Next time it happens I'll save the track, forgot to when it happened and I've attempted that mission again (and lost the main rotor again, that time because I got to close to the mountain side whilst trying without success to reach the very top (the helo just didn't seem to want to climb that last little bit) and I've tried the Stray Eagle mission, got shot at by AAA and eventually the tail rotor seized on me...

 

Not really having much luck, but I've managed to just about work out the "pre-trim" I need to put on for take off.

 

I'm not much better at Black Shark 1, it's mostly the "autopilot" in that which helps I think.

Edited December 22, 2013 by Raven_Morpheus

[heloguy]

The real Huey does not have an autopilot. BST is just trying to simulate having a co-pilot.

[Flagrum]

The real Huey does not have an autopilot. BST is just trying to simulate having a co-pilot.

+1

 

The Huey autopilot is not a system of the helo, but just a small "cheat" as you have up to 4 people on board but still have only 2 hands and two eyes ... :o)

 

I would strongly recommend to not build a habbit to rely on that cheat.

[Scrim]

Having a quite incapable AI copilot is anything but a cheat, it's an outright burden. Since the Huey is built with the thought that at least two pilots would be in it at the same time, it simply isn't viable to have a single person flying, reading the map, checking the gauges, looking for targets/threats, tuning radios, etc.

[sondo214]

Having a quite incapable AI copilot is anything but a cheat, it's an outright burden. Since the Huey is built with the thought that at least two pilots would be in it at the same time, it simply isn't viable to have a single person flying, reading the map, checking the gauges, looking for targets/threats, tuning radios, etc.

 

Toataly agree...

 

And completely disagree with Flagrum

[Flagrum]

Toataly agree...

 

And completely disagree with Flagrum

Well, I disagree with your disagreement - as I am not really saying anything different than Scrim here. *shrugs*

 

The autopilot-cheat is nothing more than the attempt to lower the workload for you as single person when you try to occupy all 4 crew positions alone.

[Flagrum]

Having a quite incapable AI copilot is anything but a cheat, it's an outright burden. Since the Huey is built with the thought that at least two pilots would be in it at the same time, it simply isn't viable to have a single person flying, reading the map, checking the gauges, looking for targets/threats, tuning radios, etc.

So, it would be better to handle both positions all alone without AI help to reduce the "burden"?:huh:

[sondo214]

Ok, now you put it better so we agree!

[hypersonik]

So, it would be better to handle both positions all alone without AI help to reduce the "burden"?:huh:

 

:megalol: :thumbup:

[Scrim]

So, it would be better to handle both positions all alone without AI help to reduce the "burden"?:huh:

 

You're calling it a cheat that people shouldn't get used to, so it doesn't come across as agreeing even in the slightest, wiseguy.

[Flagrum]

You're calling it a cheat that people shouldn't get used to, so it doesn't come across as agreeing even in the slightest, wiseguy.

We agree, that we have a helo that has 4 crew positions? We agree, that we are having to deal with those 4 crew positions all alone? Good.

 

Now I say, we have a mechanism that helps us to deal with those 4 crew positions and I call that mechanism a cheat (as we are actually NOT 4 crew members ...)

 

And now, where is our disagreement? You say, that mechanism is not viable - but that is not the opposite of "cheat" nor of "should not get used to".

 

edit:

But it IS probably the opposite of "mechanism that helps us". But then we are back to my last question: would you rather have no AI support at all in the Huey to make it easier, i.e. the AI makes things HARDER for you atm?

Edited December 22, 2013 by Flagrum

[sondo214]

We agree, that we have a helo that has 4 crew positions? We agree, that we are having to deal with those 4 crew positions all alone? Good.

 

Now I say, we have a mechanism that helps us to deal with those 4 crew positions and I call that mechanism a cheat (as we are actually NOT 4 crew members ...)

 

And now, where is our disagreement? You say, that mechanism is not viable - but that is not the opposite of "cheat" nor of "should not get used to".

 

edit:

But it IS probably the opposite of "mechanism that helps us". But then we are back to my last question: would you rather have no AI support at all in the Huey to make it easier, i.e. the AI makes things HARDER for you atm?

 

Ok, maybe if we say that it's a 'good' cheat, and that we have to get used to using it because as you say we CAN'T do all 4 persons jobs the same time, so this cheat is going to do the other 3 persons job at every time. But we need it, it's a good cheat and we MUST learn to use it and to depend on it.

 

Better?

[Cibit]

You're calling it a cheat that people shouldn't get used to, so it doesn't come across as agreeing even in the slightest, wiseguy.

 

We can all have an opinion but name calling is neither helpful or appreciated round these parts

[Raven_Morpheus]

Gentlemen,

 

I am using the "co-pilot/autopilot" for level flight to

 

a) see what position they have their controls in so that I can match it with mine using trim to achieve reasonable flight - this is how I currently learn to fly.

 

b) for level flight when I'm checking the map, setting the radio to a beacon or when I have to go a long way (my arm tends to ache a bit if I'm flying for more than 5 minutes with my hands on the stick).

 

 

It doesn't matter if it's a "cheat" or not, it is there as though the co-pilot is real.

 

 

The topic isn't about the presence of the autopilot/co-pilot or it being a "cheat" however, it's about it doing weird things, like in my case where it was trying to do a loop the loop.

 

Thanks.

Edited December 23, 2013 by Raven_Morpheus

[BIGNEWY]

Gentlemen,

 

I am using the "co-pilot/autopilot" for level flight to

 

a) see what position they have their controls in so that I can match it with mine using trim to achieve reasonable flight - this is how I currently learn to fly.

 

b) for level flight when I'm checking the map, setting the radio to a beacon or when I have to go a long way (my arm tends to ache a bit if I'm flying for more than 5 minutes with my hands on the stick).

 

 

It doesn't matter if it's a "cheat" or not, it is there as though the co-pilot is real.

 

 

The topic isn't about the presence of the autopilot/co-pilot or it being a "cheat" however, it's about it doing weird things, like in my case where it was trying to do a loop the loop.

 

Thanks.

 

Provide a track Raven_Morpheus and we can take a look

 

Personally I do not use the auto pilot at all, but it is there to make things more manageable for anyone who wants to use it.

[Raven_Morpheus]

Provide a track Raven_Morpheus and we can take a look

 

 

Yep next time it happens (assuming it happens again) I will. Don't think I have a track of it when it happened as I've done other missions since.

[Flagrum]

Ok, maybe if we say that it's a 'good' cheat, and that we have to get used to using it because as you say we CAN'T do all 4 persons jobs the same time, so this cheat is going to do the other 3 persons job at every time. But we need it, it's a good cheat and we MUST learn to use it and to depend on it.

 

Better?

No. More like what everyone else said after your and my posting ...

 

I say, it is a "cheat" (note the quotes) as it does something that is not real. It is a trick. I am not implying that such a "cheat" is good or bad in a ethic sense - it is just a tool that BST provided to us to make the Huey playable for us.

And I especially do not say that we should get used to have it on all the time. The contrary is true, use it only if absolutely necessary. The AI pilot is for instance far from perfect and does silly things if you are not careful ... and overusing the AI pilot prevents YOU from learning to fly properly. So, use it sparingly.

 

But in the end, we are all adults and everyone is free to do whatever he sees appropriate. Therefore this is my last posting in this matter. :o)

[heloguy]

I definitely like the option it provides. IRL, it depends on the pilot-in-command's (PC) preferences, but it's not uncommon that the PC will have the other pilot fly while he manages the mission (ie, navigation, systems/weapons/mission equipment monitoring, radio calls). The problem with our autopilot is that you have to take the controls every once in awhile to get yourself on the right track instead of just hitting the co-pilot upside the head and telling him where to go ;). In combat, the more experienced pilot will usually fly when the maneuver to be flown is going to be more advanced. In our case, that's everything except straight and level. I've tried using the orbit feature a couple of times, but haven't found it to be too useful. I would never orbit over a target that can shoot back, so I've never needed to use anything but straight and level if I wanted to switch to a different crew station to shoot, or to sit in place and adjust system switches.

 

It would be cool if there were commands to have the autopilot turn, or follow the flight plan or something, but it seems like it would either have to be highly simplified, which might make navigation too easy, or there would be too many commands and it would be extremely hard and time consuming to use. Either way, if they add to it, cool, if they leave it the way it is, I'm happy. It's still a great module, and one of the most realistic helo sims out there.

Edited December 24, 2013 by heloguy

[Texas Hood]

It would be nice if you could ask the Autopilot/cheat pilot/ co-pilot (whatever you want to call it) to keep it at 200' above the ground, or whatever altitude you prefer while you tune radios or what not... IMHO.

 

Now my question is, does everybody else's autopilot drift to the right about 3-5 degrees every kilometer or two?

[Slazi]

The co-pilot/autopilot thing is only really there until co-op is implemented. Both positions should be taken by real people. However, a lot of people do fly solo, so it would be good to fix it.

[jimcarrel]

Here is another "opinion". I've never used the auto pilot, but I would think it needs to work correctly, since it is there ( I have no idea if it does or not).

 

I've read multiple books from the Nam era where pilot in control have copilot (observer or crew chief) fly for periods of time. It's not a cheat it provides what is needed since we don't have a sharable cockpit yet.