DIY GRT Autopilot controller/head unit?

[YellowJacket RV9]

The one thing I'd like to see from GRT is a stand-alone autopilot head unit, with dedicated buttons rather than having to control everything through the EFIS. Now, I understand that the EFIS would still be needed to control the autopilot, but how far fetched is the idea of building a DIY control head? I believe that through the inter-display link, any GRT EFIS can control the A/P functions. That would imply that if I could find a way to emulate an EFIS, perhaps I could build such a stand-alone unit and connect it to the the primary EFIS to send A/P settings. I imagine the serial protocol is proprietary and would take some work to figure out. What else am I missing?

Chris

 

[skirting_virga]

That would imply that if I could find a way to emulate an EFIS, perhaps I could build such a stand-alone unit and connect it to the the primary EFIS to send A/P settings. I imagine the serial protocol is proprietary and would take some work to figure out. What else am I missing?

I don't usually associate GRT with "proprietary", so maybe it's published or available. I agree this would be a great product for GRT or a third party to make.

Dedicated heading knob? Dedicated altitude knob? If I wasn't already building a replacement I'd be all over it.

 

[BobTurner]

I don't usually associate GRT with "proprietary", so maybe it's published or available. I agree this would be a great product for GRT or a third party to make.

Dedicated heading knob? Dedicated altitude knob? If I wasn't already building a replacement I'd be all over it.

I have a stand-alone Trio Pro AP (great AP!) and can control it from its panel box but in fact I always control it from the GRT Hx efis. One push of the right hand knob brings up the AP controls on the bottom of the screen, easy to set altitude, heading, etc. I really cannot imagine using another separate control box.

 

[RVbySDI]

I have a stand-alone Trio Pro AP (great AP!) and can control it from its panel box but in fact I always control it from the GRT Hx efis. One push of the right hand knob brings up the AP controls on the bottom of the screen, easy to set altitude, heading, etc. I really cannot imagine using another separate control box.

+1 for this. I have a GRT HX controlling a TruTrac Vision. The Vision has a its own separate controls on its panel. I could use it to control the A/P but don’t. Mainly because everything is so easily controlled on the EFIS. Heading controlled on the left knob while in heading mode, altitude, descent rate, ascent speed, etc., all controlled on the right knob. All I use the TruTrac panel for is to turn the unit on. If I want to change from GPS track to HEADING tap the tracking mode button on the MAP page of the EFIS to change from GPS to EFIS HEADING bug. Easy Peasy! Its like flying a big Boing airliner. Especially when using the rotating knobs to fly heading. All of that functionality is on the TruTrac head but is much easier to use on the EFIS.

 

[jclark]

The one thing I'd like to see from GRT is a stand-alone autopilot head unit, with dedicated buttons rather than having to control everything through the EFIS. Now, I understand that the EFIS would still be needed to control the autopilot, but how far fetched is the idea of building a DIY control head? I believe that through the inter-display link, any GRT EFIS can control the A/P functions. That would imply that if I could find a way to emulate an EFIS, perhaps I could build such a stand-alone unit and connect it to the the primary EFIS to send A/P settings. I imagine the serial protocol is proprietary and would take some work to figure out. What else am I missing?

Chris

This has been discussed with GRT and, they do have some ideas.
The functions are all already done, and are currently accessible via pushing the right-hand knob, so it is a matter of hardware connected to a free serial port.

BUT... I would say, take a look at what they have done, somewhat recently, with the touch screens and the "pop-up" mode control panel.

 

[lr172]

I have a stand-alone Trio Pro AP (great AP!) and can control it from its panel box but in fact I always control it from the GRT Hx efis. One push of the right hand knob brings up the AP controls on the bottom of the screen, easy to set altitude, heading, etc. I really cannot imagine using another separate control box.

Same here. I have the separate ap box in my 10 with g3x and feel the grt is just as simple with no more button pressing. I have never wished the grt had a box like the garmin. Well designed ui and flow requiring very few presses.

 

[vinzer]

The one thing I'd like to see from GRT is a stand-alone autopilot head unit, with dedicated buttons rather than having to control everything through the EFIS. Now, I understand that the EFIS would still be needed to control the autopilot, but how far fetched is the idea of building a DIY control head? I believe that through the inter-display link, any GRT EFIS can control the A/P functions. That would imply that if I could find a way to emulate an EFIS, perhaps I could build such a stand-alone unit and connect it to the the primary EFIS to send A/P settings. I imagine the serial protocol is proprietary and would take some work to figure out. What else am I missing?

Chris

We will be releasing this type of autopilot soon. It will be a dedicated autopilot control head designed to support standard TruTrak servos.
It is expected to provide a plug-and-play replacement for TruTrak Vision and similar autopilot systems using the standard 25-pin D-sub connector.