autopilot
Hands-free steering system
Autopilot is a system that controls a vehicle—originally aircraft, now also cars and ships—without continuous human input.
The pilot or driver can disengage to let the machine maintain course, altitude, or speed.
Figuratively, to be on autopilot is to act mechanically, without conscious thought: I was so tired I drove home on autopilot.
One who navigates vessels
- navigationDetermining position and course
- coursePlanned path forward
- steeringControlling direction of movement
- compassDevice showing cardinal directions
heading · GPS · waypoint · bearing · sea · vessel · ship · yacht
Done by routine
- routineRegular sequence of actions
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
- mechanicalOperated by machinery
- zoned outMentally checked out
second-nature · reflexive · effortless · unthinking · disengaged · going through the motions · cruise control · inattentive
Pilot's control compartment
- flightAerial journey by aircraft
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- avionicsAircraft electronic equipment
- altimeterInstrument measuring elevation
airspeed · heading · gyroscope · glidepath · instrumentation · throttle · trim · yoke
Having no human aboard
- droneUnmanned flying machine
- self-drivingOperating without human control
- hands-freeOperable without holding
- self-operatingFunctioning without external control
automated · driverless · robotic · sensor · LIDAR · computer vision · Tesla · adaptive cruise
Finite problem-solving procedure
- softwarePrograms directing computer operations
- sensorInput-detecting device
- actuatorDevice producing controlled motion
- feedback loopSelf-modifying cyclical process
control system · processor · microcontroller · gyroscope · accelerometer · servomechanism · redundancy · fault-tolerant
Maximizing efficiency or performance
- economySystem of trade and production
- cruiseLeisurely ocean voyage
- hands-freeOperable without holding
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
long-haul · steady · consistent · energy-efficient · precision · smooth · fuel management
helmsman
One who navigates vessels
- navigationDetermining position and course
- coursePlanned path forward
- steeringControlling direction of movement
compass · heading · GPS · waypoint · bearing · sea · vessel · ship · yacht · motorboat
habitual
Done by routine
- routineRegular sequence of actions
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
- mechanicalOperated by machinery
zoned out · second-nature · reflexive · effortless · unthinking · disengaged · going through the motions · cruise control · inattentive · daydreaming
cockpit
Pilot's control compartment
- flightAerial journey by aircraft
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- avionicsAircraft electronic equipment
altimeter · airspeed · heading · gyroscope · glidepath · instrumentation · throttle · trim · yoke · flight computer
unmanned
Having no human aboard
- droneUnmanned flying machine
- self-drivingOperating without human control
- hands-freeOperable without holding
self-operating · automated · driverless · robotic · sensor · LIDAR · computer vision · Tesla · adaptive cruise · collision avoidance
algorithm
Finite problem-solving procedure
- softwarePrograms directing computer operations
- sensorInput-detecting device
- actuatorDevice producing controlled motion
feedback loop · control system · processor · microcontroller · gyroscope · accelerometer · servomechanism · redundancy · fault-tolerant · calibration
optimization
Maximizing efficiency or performance
- economySystem of trade and production
- cruiseLeisurely ocean voyage
- hands-freeOperable without holding
endurance · long-haul · steady · consistent · energy-efficient · precision · smooth · fuel management
- aerospaceairplane, helicopter, rocket, rockets, spacecraft
- Auto- wordsautocorrect, autobiography, autograph, autopsy, autofocus
- Future Transporthyperloop, maglev, air taxi, drone taxi, self-driving car
- seamanshipseamanship, steering, anchoring, navigation, chartwork
- aviation innovationjet engine, radar, GPS, black box, winglet
- flight automationflight computer
autopilotmanual control
Human-directed action
manual · manual operation · manual steering · piloted · joystick control
autopilotmindfulness
Awareness of the present
full attention · alertness · vigilance · flow state · conscious awareness
- on autopilotActing without active awareness
- autopilot modeAutomated control setting
- Tesla AutopilotAssisted driving software
- autopilot systemsTechnology that steers vehicles autonomously