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The Co-Pilot is a two-axis, four-sensor
control-stabilization system that plugs
into your RC system. It has no moving
parts and uses infrared (IR) heat sensors to
control the model's roll and pitch. The
system has two components: a sensor
head that you attach to the underside of
your model and a controller unit that you
install inside your model like a receiver. A
thin ribbon cable connects the two. Two
wire leads are connected to the controller;
one has a push-button switch, and the
other ends with a servo-lead connector.
You use the switch when you calibrate the
unit before each flight session, and the
servo lead can be plugged into an unused
radio channel in your receiver for in-flight
on/off function.
The Co-pilot comes with a wellillustrated
instruction booklet that shows
various installations. The instructions show
in detail how to install the unit in a normal
fixed-wing airplane, in a flying wing and in
a helicopter. Here's how it works.
The sensor head has four
IR heat sensors that face left,
right, forward and aft. The
sensors read how much IR
heat is present in the four
directions. The controller
unit evaluates the IR heat
information and adjusts the
controls to keep the IR heat
values equal for all four sensors
for normal straight-andlevel
flight. Infrared heat is a
much better source for control
input than visible light
because IR heat isn't affected
as much by cloud cover.
The controller is plugged into the RC
receiver system between the receiver and
the servos. Once it has been calibrated,
the unit need not be calibrated again
unless the weather changes drastically.
Above: the controller unit is smaller than a standard
receiver and is plugged into the radio system
between the servos and the receiver.
Right: the FMA Co-Pilot sensor head is held in
place on the belly of the model with a piece of
hook-and-loop fastener. Note the ribbon wire
leading inside the model to the controller unit.
Below: with the model standing on its nose, simply
press the calibration switch; the controller
unit does the rest. Note
that the sensor head on
the model's belly is facing
away from me during
the procedure.
Since the unit
works by reading
the differences in IR
heat levels rather
than in light intensity,
it works equally
well in bright
sunlight or overcast
conditions. The
unit will also work
at night, though the inability to see your
model is a limiting factor.
It takes only a few minutes to install
the units; you'll need to cut a small opening
in the bottom of the fuselage so you
High-performance applications by Rick Bell
I wanted to see how the FMA Co-Pitot performed in a model other than a trainer,
so I installed it in a Hangar 9 Advance 40. On the day I flew it, the weather was
partly cloudy with temperatures in the mid-50s, and the wind was about 7- to
13mph. I set up the unit to control the elevators and ailerons to allow me to
turn it off during the flight if something went wrong. I connected the remote
sensitivity lead to the retract gear switch.
Cautiously, I took off with the unit turned off. At a safe altitude, I turned it
on, let go of the sticks and waited to see what would happen: the plane contin-
ued to fly straight and level. I could see the wind rock the wings, but the unit
always returned them to level-pretty cool! With more confidence in the system,
I turned the plane around for another pass and could feel the unit "fighting" my
control inputs.
On the next pass, I rolled the plane into knife-edge flight and, again, let go
of the sticks. As before, the plane returned to level flight—this was getting inter-
can pass the ribbon wire through to connect
the sensor head to the controller.
This takes only about 2 minutes.
CALIBRATING THE UNIT
Before the first flight of the day, you'll have
to calibrate the unit to read the ambient IR
heat; this is a two-step procedure. First,
place the model's nose on the ground with
its tail sticking straight up and the sensor
head facing away from you. Turn on the
transmitter and receiver and then press the
push-button IR calibration switch. The control
surfaces will then quickly deflect several
times; the number of deflections tells you
esting! On the next pass, I rolled the plane inverted and let go of the sticks; the
plane immediately corkscrewed back to upright and level flight. I did this several
more times, and the plane always returned to upright and level flight without
any input from me. Don't do this at low altitude! When the plane is inverted, the
unit applies up-elevator, and the plane does a split-S back to straight and level.
I think ft would be better if instead the unit rolled the plane upright without
elevator input.
I was quite impressed during landing approaches; as the speed decreased,
the plane settled nicely, and the nose and the wings remained level. I needed
to use throttle only to make the approach to the runway and rudder to compen-
sate for the crosswind; the Co-Piiot made landings really easy.
The Co-Pilot works as advertised. Whether you use it in a high-performance
model or in a .40-size trainer, Co-Pilot removes much of the risk, and this, con-
sequently greatly enhances the RC experience.
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