https://newatlas.com/aircraft/airbus-helicopters-single-joystick-system/ * SUBSCRIBE AD-FREE * LOG IN * HOME * LIFESTYLE + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories * SCIENCE + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories * TECHNOLOGY + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories * TRANSPORT + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories (c) 2023 New Atlas New Atlas logo Menu * HOME * LIFESTYLE + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories * SCIENCE + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories * TECHNOLOGY + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories * TRANSPORT + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories * SUBSCRIBE AD-FREE * LOG IN Show Search [ ]Search Query Submit Search Aircraft Airbus Helicopters single-joystick system simplifies copter controls By David Szondy October 25, 2023 * Facebook * Twitter * Flipboard * LinkedIn Inline image / # Airbus Helicopters single-joystick system simplifies copter controls The Airbus system reduces controls to a single joystick The Airbus system reduces controls to a single joystick Airbus Helicopters View 1 Image 1/1 The Airbus system reduces controls to a single joystick Airbus Helicopters [icon-mouse-sc] Airbus Helicopters' new FlightLab flying laboratory is already yielding results, successfully testing a fly-by-wire system for Airbus' CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL prototype that reduces the primary flight controls to a single joystick. If you look at the covers of enough popular science and mechanics magazines, you're bound to come across illustrations of a future where helicopters are as commonplace in suburban driveways as motor cars. It's a cool idea, but it's also one where you can hear the eyes roll in the sockets of professional helicopter pilots because it's completely ridiculous. One of the biggest problems is that helicopter controls are so complex that you ideally need three hands to work them. This includes the Cyclic Control, which looks a bit like a joystick and controls the pitch of the main rotors and allows the pilot to move the machine forward, backward, left, or right; the Collective Control that is the stick at the side that controls the pitch of the blades to control lift, so the craft goes up, down, or hovers; and the Foot Pedals that control the tail rotor that controls which way the helicopter is pointing. If that isn't enough, there's also a throttle on the Collective Control to ensure that the engine power matches the blade pitch. No wonder helicopter pilots tend to retire young. By relying on computer assistance and fly-by-wire technology, Airbus has succeeded in simplifying the controls, reducing them to a single joystick that takes over all the functions. By manipulating the stick, the pilot can handle all maneuvers, including take-off, landing, climbing, descent, acceleration, declaration, turning, and approach. The result is a control system that not only simplifies helicopter flying, but is suited for eVTOLs. In addition, it allows for easier to understand interfaces that concentrate on supplying the most important information to the pilot. "From the start, we designed this system considering every certification parameter in mind as it will be a big step forward in validating the design of our urban air mobility eVTOL, CityAirbus NextGen," said Tomasz Krysinski, Head of Research & Innovation at Airbus Helicopters. "The advantage of an electric flight control system is enormous, especially when it comes to reducing pilot workload and ultimately enhancing mission safety. It is also a great example of how our demonstrators are used to mature the techno-bricks necessary to prepare the future of vertical flight." Source: Airbus Helicopters Tags AircraftAirbusHelicopters * Facebook * Twitter * Flipboard * LinkedIn 6 comments David Szondy David Szondy David Szondy is a playwright, author and journalist based in Seattle, Washington. A retired field archaeologist and university lecturer, he has a background in the history of science, technology, and medicine with a particular emphasis on aerospace, military, and cybernetic subjects. In addition, he is the author of four award-winning plays, a novel, reviews, and a plethora of scholarly works ranging from industrial archaeology to law. David has worked as a feature writer for many international magazines and has been a feature writer for New Atlas since 2011. Most Viewed * After verifying output simulations over 200 hp-per-liter, AVL will next install the H2 engine into a car for track testing Automotive Water-injected 2.0-liter turbo-four hydrogen engine spits out 410 hp * The enormous Pathfinder 1 airship will soon take flight Aircraft Sergey Brin's 400-foot airship reportedly cleared for takeoff * Add the high-popping rooftop tent, and you have an overland camper custom-fit to the Gladiator Automotive Jeep stamps its name on slick, modular pickup camper shell system Load More 6 comments Sign in to post a comment. Please keep comments to less than 150 words. No abusive material or spam will be published. Chase October 25, 2023 11:28 PM While it's a neat idea, and I'm really curious how they integrated the collective/throttle into it, I can't help but be reminded of something I've told many of my peers when they've talked about buying their kid's first vehicle. "Buy them a manual transmission car. If you learn to drive in an automatic you'll only ever know how to drive an automatic. If you learn to drive in a manual car you'll be able to drive pretty much anything with wheels." Same goes here. Sure it makes learning to fly easier, but it doesn't teach you how to fly anything that doesn't have this system. riczero-b October 26, 2023 02:26 AM Chase,with respect skills on one vehicle may not transfer to another : for instance, heli pilots can crash gyroplanes if they misapply their learned skills. So any efficient simplification is we!come. Barnyard Genius October 26, 2023 07:13 AM Then need to "Cycle out" the helicopter in general. And cycle in a 4 rotor. You got thousands perhaps millions of quadcopter pilots making and flying racing ect their toys. Just think what they could do in real one. FFS they have quad copters launces from helicopters even! Id tell the Helicopter companies focus future efforts on quadcopters instead. Barnyard Genius October 26, 2023 07:15 AM To ad insultto the joystick quad copters can be flown with two thumbs!! guzmanchinky October 26, 2023 09:21 AM Such a DUH moment. So glad it's happening. Karmudjun October 29, 2023 12:40 PM Having learned to drive farm tractors, I can say that fixed throttle vehicles were absurdly easy to drive when I drove them. Yes, manual transmission driving skills do cover most vehicles, learning the nuances of each type of craft is paramount to calling oneself a skilled driver. Maybe Airbus' "fly by wire" system will open the skies to more souls - or maybe not. Helicopters are well utilized as is, opening up the individual pilot skills by reducing the hand/eye coordination skillset may not be that great an endeavor - it will definitely sell more airbus helicopters......to the wealthy and the foolish. Saving comment... [ ] Post New Atlas logo GET OUR NEWSLETTER Over 220,000 people receive our email newsletter. Get your daily dose of extraordinary ideas! 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