autopilot system
Automatic flight control
An autopilot system is technology that controls a vehicle—typically an aircraft—without continuous manual input from a human operator.
The pilot engages autopilot to maintain heading, altitude, or speed during routine flight phases: The autopilot system handled the cruise while the crew reviewed approach charts.
Modern systems range from basic attitude-hold functions to sophisticated automation that can execute entire flight plans.
The term extends to any automated control mechanism, and figuratively to functioning on routine without conscious attention: I was running on autopilot.
- cruise controlAutomatic velocity maintenance system
- lane assistAutomated steering correction system
- navigationDetermining position and course
- cockpitPilot's control compartment
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
flight · hands-free · aircraft · drone · Tesla · GPS · sensors · override · disengage · flight computer · routine · Boeing · Airbus · throttle · heading · avionics · cruise · mindless
autopilot systemmanual control
Human-directed action
manual operation · manual mode · manual steering · analog control
autopilot, auto, pilot, system, autos, pilots, piloting, piloted, systems