Inexpensive and reliable device is used in conjunction with fluidic-electronic wing-leveler system. Single magnetometer is placed so pilot can make adjustments in aircraft heading simply by rotating magnetometer itself

Garner, H. D.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

October 1974	 B74-10176 
•	 NASA TECH BRIEF 
Langley Research Center 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Magnetic-Heading Reference Device 
.
An unusually inexpensive and reliable magnetic-
heading reference device has been designed for use 
in conjunction with the fluidic-electronic wing-leveler 
system developed by Langley Research Center. In this 
application a single magnetometer is placed so that the 
pilot can make adjustments in aircraft heading simply 
by rotating the magnetometer itself. 
This system utilizes a magnetometer mounted directly 
to the structure of the aircraft. The magnetometer has 
a compass scale attached; this assembly is free to 
rotate about an axis parallel to the yaw axis of the 
aircraft. Mounted in this manner it can be manually 
adjusted by the pilot to the desired heading. An 
electrical circuit is used to compensate for errors in 
the output of the magnetometer due to the roll of the 
aircraft. 
The application of the magnetometer and the cor-
rection network to an actual aircraft control system 
depends, to some extent, on the related instrumentation 
available in the aircraft. The compensated magnetometer 
output can be used directly as a magnetic-heading ref-
erence for a wing-leveler type of stability augmentation 
system or for a more conventional automatic pilot 
system. It can also serve as a visual-heading reference for 
a manually steered vehicle.
Notes: 
1. The following documentation may be obtained from: 
National Technical Information Service 
Springfield, Virginia 22151 
Single document price $3.75 
(or microfiche $2.25) 
Reference: NASA TN D-7460 (N74-19282), Devel-
opment and Flight Tests of a Gyroless Wing Leveler 
and Directional Autopilot 
2. Technical questions may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Langley Research Center 
Mail Stop 139-A 
Hampton, Virginia 23665 
Reference: B74-10176 
Patent status: 
Inquiries concerning rights for the commercial use 
of this invention should be addressed to: 
Patent Counsel 
Langley Research Center 
Mail Stop 456 
Hampton, Virginia 23665 
Source: H. Douglas Garner

Langley Research Center

(LAR-! 1387) 
Category 02,03 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National
	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States
	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
	
will be free from privately owned rights.
I
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Magnetic-heading reference device

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