An AutoTrim function automatically adjusts the trim of the elevator of a simulated aircraft to compensate for pitching moments that are not caused by a user affirmatively controlling the elevator. A flight simulator program determines a sum of the pitching moments acting on the simulated aircraft, excluding the user setting of the elevator. The sum of the longitudinal pitching moments is then set equal to zero to solve for a desired position for setting the AutoTrim control. A time lag is applied in setting the AutoTrim control to the desired position, to provide greater realism. Use of the AutoTrim control provides enhanced control authority to the user in controlling the longitudinal pitch of the aircraft. The AutoTrim control functionality is stopped as the angle of attack of the aircraft approaches a stall condition, but resumes when the plane is flying in a substantially safer flight condition.

Remote manipulation method and system of the master-slave type in which an operation procedure plan is prepared for defining each of a sequence of pieces of work as being performed by manual operation or automatic operation at least on the basis of information on the level of skill of a human operator and the sequence of pieces of work is performed in accordance with the plan, whereby work can be done efficiently with human operator's skill taken into consideration.

A mockup device interfaces directly with the keyboard port of a desktop (personal) computer and requires no additional or specialized adapter. A hardware mockup of an aircraft cockpit control panel, including instruments, switches and control yoke, includes an interface unit through which digital signals that replicate keystroke sequences employed by flight simulation application software are generated. The interface unit is coupled with and responds to the physical manipulation of the control elements of the cockpit control panel mockup, so that control panel manipulative action of the computer user `pilot` causes the generation and delivery of keystroke representative signals to the keyboard port of the computer. In response to these keystroke representative signals the flight simulation software that has been loaded into the computer controls the flight simulation display just as though the user were operating the system directly from the keyboard. However, because the interface unit produces the command sequences in response to the manipulation of dedicated control/switch elements corresponding to those on an actual cockpit control panel and at a signalling rate that far exceeds the manipulative keystroke action of the computer user, the flight simulation display on the computer monitor is presented effectively in near real time, thereby creating a more realistic simulation of flight conditions to the `pilot` user.

An altimeter is disclosed which includes an arcuate top portion and an arcuate bottom portion. Side portions connect the arcuate top portion to the arcuate bottom portion. The side portions have a curvature less than a curvature of the top portion or the bottom portion, thus giving the altimeter a narrower footprint while preserving important features of conventional dial-type altimeters. An indicator moves about the perimeter of the altimeter based on altitude information, thus displaying altitude of the aircraft.

A user input system for inputting computer signals, such as a joystick, has an elongated member or handle that is movably received by a housing. The handle is capable of moving in at least three perpendicular directions, i.e., along X, Y and Z axes, and is capable of being rotated about at least one of the three axes. In a first embodiment, a pair of light emitting diodes ("LEDs") are mounted at an end of the handle and oriented toward the interior of the housing. The LEDs are strobed to alternately project light downward into the housing. A light detecting element, such as a two-dimensional position sensing device ("PSD"), two one-dimension PSDs, or a four quadrant photodiode, is positioned opposite the LEDs, and mounted to the housing to receive the light from the LEDs to produce signals. The signals are converted from analog to digital and input to a microprocessor. The microprocessor, employing trigonometric methods, calculates the position and orientation (i.e., rotation) of the handle and outputs the coordinates to a host computer. The joystick preferably includes switches that produce signals and a slidable member that produces a variable signal, all of which are also output to the computer. In a second embodiment, the LEDs are mounted to the housing to project the light upward and the light detecting unit is mounted at the end of the handle.