fly-by-wire
Computerized flight control
Fly-by-wire is an aircraft control system where electronic signals replace mechanical linkages between pilot inputs and control surfaces.
When a pilot moves the stick, computers translate the command and send electrical signals to actuators that move the wings or tail.
The technology reduces weight, allows computerized flight envelope protection, and enables designs that would be unstable under manual control.
Most modern commercial and military aircraft use fly-by-wire systems.
Pilot's control compartment
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- throttlePower flow controller
- rudderPivoting stern blade
elevator · aileron · autopilot · avionics · jet · airspeed · altitude · navigation
Finite problem-solving procedure
- codeSymbolic communication system
- programmingWriting software instructions
- firmwareHardware's permanent programming
- real-timeOccurring without processing delay
digital · computation · logic · filtering · calibration · latency · processor
Devices that detect input
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- circuitClosed electrical pathway
- microprocessorCompact computing circuit
- transducerEnergy form converter
voltage · current · semiconductor · transistor · harness · connector · multiplexing · analog-to-digital
cockpit
Pilot's control compartment
rudder · elevator · aileron · autopilot · avionics · jet · airspeed · altitude · navigation · takeoff
algorithm
Finite problem-solving procedure
- codeSymbolic communication system
- programmingWriting software instructions
- firmwareHardware's permanent programming
real-time · digital · computation · logic · filtering · calibration · latency · processor
sensors
Devices that detect input
- signalMessage-conveying cue
- circuitClosed electrical pathway
- microprocessorCompact computing circuit
transducer · voltage · current · semiconductor · transistor · harness · connector · multiplexing · analog-to-digital · electrical
- aerospacehelicopter, rocket, rockets, spacecraft, astronauts
- aviation innovationjet engine, autopilot, radar, GPS, black box
- flight stabilitydihedral, anhedral, roll, yaw, pitch
- pilotingtakeoff, landing, climbing, cruising, descending
- autopilotautopilot, autothrottle, autoland, pitch control, auto mode
- aircraft partswing, wings, fuselage, aileron, ailerons