Paparazzi autopilot on R/C Alpha 40 - onboard plane camera - engine flameout

Yes, this plane is flying itself. It uses the Paparazzi open-source autopilot hardware and software (http://paparazzi.enac.fr/wiki/Main_Page), installed on my Hangar 9 Alpha 40 radio-controlled aircraft (a new plane, as my old Alpha suffered a terminal landing in high winds). The plane-mounted camera shows the autopilot running its pre-set waypoint navigation, at three different altitude levels.

At peak altitude, the engine (a new engine) experienced a flameout. The autopilot compensated for the loss in airspeed, and guided the plane to a thankfully soft landing in very tall grass. There was absolutely no damage, and I was back in the air. The video seen here corresponds to roughly the second half of the HD video posted just prior to this one.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Paparazzi
• autopilot
• r/c
• Hangar 9
• Alpha
• plane
• autonomous
• UAV